Gavin > Recent Status Updates

I’m nearing the final stages of this one and still cannot decide if I’m actually enjoying it or not!

The fun twists just keep coming. I can’t believe another guy caught Maggie out with the exact same trick lol!

I’m officially loving this. I think it might be my best read of 2026 so far!

I love the premise. I love the characters. I love the plot. I love the twists and turns. I just love everything to be honest.

I liked Kate Daniels but this is way better!

This has had a fantastic start. I’m already totally sucked into the story.

I liked the Kate Daniels series, and thought it got better with each passing book, but I struggled with the Innkeeper series. I think I’m enjoying This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me more than Kate Daniels. I think I just tend to really love portal fantasy, and so far so great for this one!

She had been addicted to fantasy since childhood, ever since she had watched the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. They had drawn her into a world full of fantasy and magic, and she often dreamed of riding one of the giant eagles that saved Bilbo and the dwarves from the orcs.

The movies! I now officially feel ancient especially since our lead in this one is 27 years old rather than some teen lol!

I like to try at least one classic fantasy or sci-fi series every year and for 2026 Tiger & Del is my pick.

So far it has been solid but unspectacular. Classic 80s sword and sorcery in a lot of ways, for better and worse.

I got into reading back in the day thanks to the horror genre but have not read much horror in the last 25 years. I’ve decided to give it another go by returning to an old one from the 90s. No idea how it will hold up now I’m not an impressionable young teen but I always liked the magic hook in this tale so I’m going to hope for the best!

I had a great time with the Demonized series a few years ago. The premise of this series does not sound half so fun, but it is set in the same world, so hopefully I’ll love it anyway!

Bought this back in 2017 or 2018 and finally getting to reading it. I’ve read a bunch of abduction fantasy/romance tales of late, and this is another in the same mould, but the draw of this one is the fact that it has the FMC abducting the MMC. I love a good trope reversal!

Start has been solid.

I’m going with the Graphic Audios for this Murderbot reread. Just getting myself up to speed again before I try the TV show when the final episode drops this Friday!

I’ve just spotted 10th Anniversary Editions of ACoTaR on Audible and I’m so tempted to buy them. Problem is I already have the original audios (with three different narrators over the course of series) AND the Graphic Audios. The new ones are all narrated by Elizabeth Evans.

I like this series but have not read anything from it since book 3.5 way back in 2018. I feel like Eve being tempted by that Apple!

Still plodding my way through this one. I’ll make it to the end but I’m probably pulling the plug on the series at that point. Which is annoying since I already own the third book!

Stalling a bit on this series. It is not awful just a bit…dull. I’ll try to make it to the end of this book but I doubt I’ll pick up the third one. Which is a bit annoying since I bought the second and third book in a deal!

Jumping through a lot of hoops but I’ve finally managed to get the ebook of this one plugged into an AI app so I can listen to it. The quality is a long way short of professional narration but probably an upgrade on Alexa, which is my normal go-to way to listen to books without audio.

Been ages since I last read my old favourite Paradise. It is definitely feeling a tad more dated nowadays.

I’ve stalled a bit in my Iron Flame read so I’m picking the one up to see if something different can spark me into reading a bit more. Weird thing is I tend to enjoy Iron Flame while I’m reading it but seem to avoid picking it up.

I’m off to a good start with this one. Feels like Ana Huang-Lite!

Started well but is losing a little steam a this stage of the story. Hopefully it picks up and finishes strong as this has been a solid enough YA fantasy tale.

I know Frisha drives some readers to despair but rereading this one has reminded me of just how much I love the weird Rez/Frisha romance. I think it is half the reason why I love the first couple of books in the series so much.

I’d love to find and actual romance book with a similarly weird character dynamic but one that actually delivers a satisfying payoff!

Bit of a boring start to this one. Hopefully things pick up!

Been a while since I’ve done a regular apocalypse tale and this one is of the old school zombiepocalypse variety!

So far so good in the opening stages.

I’m really enjoying this one. It is providing the perfect balance of racy romantasy that we got in the last two books of the original trilogy and the darker murder/mystery and creepy horror vibes of the first book.

I’m also enjoying how Camilla has a few secrets of her own and how she is definitely keeping Envy on his toes!

I’m already fully sucked back into this world after taking a short break to read a few Fionavar books.

I was initially a little worried about Camilla as a lead. A human character felt a tad dull after we got introduced to all the demons and supernaturals in the last few books of the initial trilogy but, happily, I’ve warmed to her quickly. Hopefully she keeps Envy on his toes!

Just when I thought the Jennifer story arc could not get any worse it not only proves me wrong but does so right out of the gate!

I’m 5% in and already regretting my decision to give this second book in the series a chance.

I’ll press on because I recall liking Tigana and Song For Arbonne back in the day but I’m pulling the plug on the spot if there is any more magic inspired sexual torture.

I’m only averaging a single traditionally published epic fantasy series of the old school variety in each of the last few years so hopefully the Fionavar Trilogy works out better for me than my failed attempt with David Drake’s Lord of the Isles series did last year.

The bad news is I’m not really feeling it so far. Pretty writing but the content is fairly soulless and I’m feeling detached and a tad bored.

I wish I was enjoying this more as while cozy fantasy LitRPG romcom is definitely a bit niche it should absolutely be my particular niche!!!

Ugh…it is just not working for me and I so wish it was because the premise is really fun.

My run of average reads is not over yet it seems :(

I never did get to this final book in the trilogy back in 2017 (only ‘cause it was not published at the time) so I’m super excited to see how the final books wraps up this crazy story. Especially after the crazy twists towards the end of the second book.

I’ve no idea why this YA sci-fi series with its crazy twists and turns and fun characters never ended up being more popular!

This is still one of my favourite YA series. Always felt like it was a real pity it never ended up being as popular as most of my other favourites in the genre.

Such a fun action sci-fi with plenty of twists and turns and great characters!

I was 50/50 on pushing on with this second instalment after the first was a bit of a letdown but the thing that has tipped me over to giving this series a second go to hook me is the fact that it is included in the Audible Plus catalog so I don’t actually have to risk any cash in case I decide to DNF early.

Honestly about time I got some use out of Audible Plus!

I’ve decided to restart another epic fantasy series from my early fantasy years. I’m not sure I ever finished this series the first time around. I’m about 50/50 with series from my teen years.

The bad news is I’ve been struggling a bit in the early stages. This has been a bit dull and the writing is more confusing than engaging. Seems to be picking up a bit now but I’m not sure it is ever going to be great.

Starting my first traditionally published YA series in nearly a year! I’m deep down the well on indie stuff over the last few years. This seems a safe bet to help pull me back to the mainstream as I’ve had it laying around for years after enjoying Amy Tintera’s earlier duology.