Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for A Right Shambles in York by Kim M. Watt starting on August 3, 2025.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Gobbelino London, PI Series:
1. Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries (Sept 3) [link]
2. Gobbelino London & A Contagion of Zombies (Oct 3) [link]
3. Gobbelino London & A Complication of Unicorns (Nov 3) [link]
4. Gobbelino London & a Melee of Mages (Dec 3) [link]
5. Gobbelino London & a Worry of Weres (Jan 3) [link]
6. Gobbelino London and a Menace of Mermaids (Feb 3) [link]
7. Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes (Mar 3) [link]

Audio: Not on Hoopla or A+
Ebook: #1, 2, &7 are on Hoopla, not on KU or Open Library.
Let me know if you find any universal subscription/library copies. Check your own libby & libraries!

There are several connected series in this world--including The Beaufort Scales Cozy Mysteries and the DI Adams stories (What Happened in London)

Up Next!
Beaufort Scales #9 Something in the Waters (April 3) [link]

DI Adams!
0. What Happened in London (May 3) [link]
1. All Out of Leeds (Jun 3) [link]
2. Trouble Brewing in Harrogate (Jul 3) [link]
3. A Right Shambles in York (Aug 3)
New Release! 4. Hexed in Hawes (Dec 15) [link]


Cozy Standalone: The Neverending Story (Sept 3) [link]

Hallowbeck Cozy Mysteries by Watt & Ash for New Year!
1. Witch Slap (Jan 3) [link]
2. One Smart Witch (Feb 3)
3. Life's a Witch (Mar 3)
4. Witchfest (Apr 3)

Up to chapter 4: I'm glad we got a bit of a review on who the characters are. (view spoiler)[ I needed the refresher on Heather and Charles. The guardian thing that Adams is investigating is interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Im up to chapter 9... Ducks all over the place here...

I enjoyed this one alot, and the concepts and shenanigans... things got complicated towards the end, and I wasn't paying as close attention as I should... if anyone wants to try and explain it in a spoiler, feel free :D ... I went back and relistened to the last 6 chapters, and it only helped me a bit... since I wasn't doing the best with character names, either...

Seemed like (view spoiler)[a cop or someone from London was floating around accusing DI Adams of going crazy, and lots of confusing and misunderstandings and lies among the little cast of characters in the book, and shenanigans with pixies and unknown creatures in the Other York...

The 2 Shambles shop runners (one liking to go to the bar), and the apprentice that kinda knew about the magic world...

Etc...

DI Adams was just happy the key was found and the Guardian Golems were sorted, at the end, with no deaths, and went on with her life to the next job task... (hide spoiler)]

I'm at 60% and really enjoying the fact that this is pretty much a straight forward mystery. (view spoiler)[ The cop (Jasper) who is chasing Adams is from York but he seems to be involved with both versions of York and right now it is unknown as to what his role is. He has been chasing Joe who is friends with Violet the apprentice and Joe is a thief who works for Eddie and Morris. It seems like Heather might make a good villain and I won't be terribly surprised if she is the one who stole the key. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: I enjoyed the story but wasn't blown away by it. It was a nice way to spend a overcast day.

re: Iain's spoiler and end of story thoughts: (view spoiler)[ Adams really seemed to have a tough time with managing all the people she was dealing with. Rory and his 2 dogs invited themselves along and DI Collins was able to join them with Thompson to search for Joe, Violet and Charles who were all looking for the master charm. Things happened and the bad guy was revealed before he was found dead in the river at the end.

I was surprised that Adams didn't end up with the mechanical cat who seemed to like her so much. I really enjoyed seeing how her friends were able to support her and she seemed to accept their help somewhat better than previous books. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for that... I seemed to get lost in the sea of names towards the end... especially after I got off work, and wasn't paying as close attention as I went shopping and then doodling around at home...

I listened to this last week and really enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[It was fun seeing Adams pretty much fully embrace her role as investigator for the supernatural community. I also like how she's got several solid contacts now--the gentry dude, the shop lady... and of course can't discount Dandy.

The in-between York was an interesting place. I like the idea, of all of this other world just a shift in perception away... people walking by and not seeing it. And those T-Shirts "I went Wild in York!" LOL!

I like how she applied her tried-and-true police procedures to the case, even though the shop lady looked at her sideways for it. Well, Adams might be written in to the Other world, but that doesn't mean she's up on magical methods of police work. That'll have to come later...

I liked the characters--shop lady and her partner who was a little too fond of drink, gentry friend who had a family library even if not really in the Other world, the police officers, even the kids (young adults, but stupid like kids) who got caught up the mess with some lying and thieving. Kinda want to smack them up the back of the head and make them scrub toilets....

I also really liked the mechanical cat... I would have liked to see Adams adopt her as well... And I agree that it was nice to see Adams accepting help for a change--even if it did take her 3/4 of the book to get there. (hide spoiler)]

I'm finally starting this today :D

I want to read the Hallowbeck Cozy Mysteries by Watt & Ash with the group but think I could use a breather. Would anyone be up for starting these in January?

Narilka wrote: "I want to read the Hallowbeck Cozy Mysteries by Watt & Ash with the group but think I could use a breather. Would anyone be up for starting these in January?"

I'm okay with waiting until Jan.

That sounds good to me too. Anyone have a cozy solo standalone suggestion for Sept? Or just leave it be?

Do we like the 3rd still starting in Jan?

I have plenty of cozy standalone options in my cozy November pile to pull from in the planapalooza thread, for September, if anyone wants to...

Y'know, I was just talking to my neighbor, and she recently discovered House Witch--and we haven't picked up Ether Witch: The Casting Call yet... She said it was a close contender for her favorite... neck-in-neck with Princess of Potential for her...

Anyone interested in Ether Witch?

Or Paula was suggesting The Neverending Story.

Third's still good for me in Jan.

Main reason I haven't been going home for Ether witch is I assume it's the start of a trilogy and the Princess of Potential and House Witch left alot of dangling threads mid-trilogy...

Neverending story works for me

Nirkatze wrote: "Third's still good for me in Jan."

Sounds good.

Note to self: request the BR threads at the end of the month.

Through ch 3 (view spoiler)[I think it's funny that Adams already has made a name for herself and these cases. Like everyone has a kind of awareness of the folk but mostly stay away, shuffling it to the one or two people who handle them unofficially.

And ducks. Why do I think this will come back later. (hide spoiler)]

I'm going to do a bunch of requests today. I can put in the first one for Jan, and we can do the rest of the series once we get closer and make sure everything's still good timing-wise...

Nirkatze wrote: "I'm going to do a bunch of requests today. I can put in the first one for Jan, and we can do the rest of the series once we get closer and make sure everything's still good timing-wise..."

That works. Thanks Nirkatze.

Witch Slap & Neverending Story requested, top post updated with new schedule.

Through Ch 11 (view spoiler)[I'm dying to find out what that clockwork duck that was given to Adams does :D

This is a decent little investigation. Adams is learning more about the folk and her own powers on the way.

Adams is astonishingly bad with people. Like horrible. Perhaps one day she'll get some pointers from Collin. She's also picking up admirers whether she wants to or knows it. (hide spoiler)]

LOL I love your analysis of Adams's interpersonal skills. :)

Through Ch 17. This is fun :) (view spoiler)[Adams is definitely coming into her own! I'm glad she has Rory and Collins deep in with her no matter her objections. She's going to need the help. And Rory still sort of trying to get a date :D

So cute that Fergus seems to have imprinted on Adams too. I wonder if they'll give her the cat at the end. Regardless, she always has an in to the shop with Fergus around.

Heck she even sort of befriended Wilfred by giving it those metal wrappers for it to use as additional... uh.. parts? Hair? Something lol (hide spoiler)]

I finished. This was a lot of fun. (view spoiler)[YAY! They tried to give her Fergus lol I know she declined another pet but it looks like in the short story link at the end Fergus has other ideas :D A magical cat to go with the magical dog will be perfect for Adams.

I said it before and it's worth repeating: I love that Adams is finally leaning in to all the weird and isn't taking crap from anyone, human or folk hah!

Similar to the Gobbelinoo series, its obvious there is something larger going on behind the scenes. I'm looking forward to finding out what that is. Keep your duck close and carry a big stick. (hide spoiler)]

In the author's afterward she mentioned there will be another DI Adams later in 2025 so I'll keep an eye out for it.

Oooh, I'm excited for that short story link! (view spoiler)[It was hard that she didn't take Fergus with her! Fingers crossed for the short story.... (hide spoiler)]

Keep your duck close and carry a big stick. I love this line of yours, Narilka!

I kind of expected another book regardless... the author writes at a fair clip...

Hexed in Hawes: A DI Adams mystery - magic, menace, & snark in a Yorkshire urban fantasy looks like it't being released Oct. 23, 2025 but I didn't see an audio option.

If it comes out we should read in December

Ooo, sweet. Thanks Rachel :)

Exciting! Loving all this new release news...

Looks like Hexed in Hawes has an audio listing for Dec 1st. Do we want to schedule for mid-Dec?

Nirkatze wrote: "Looks like Hexed in Hawes has an audio listing for Dec 1st. Do we want to schedule for mid-Dec?"

I would second that.

Nirkatze wrote: "Looks like Hexed in Hawes has an audio listing for Dec 1st. Do we want to schedule for mid-Dec?"

That sounds great!