While the Dark Remains by Joanna Ruth Meyer (Review)

While the Dark Remains by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Bookshop.org | TG Jones | World of Books

Blurb

In an icebound palace of magic and menace, a young woman plots to outwit a cruel king in a bracing fantasy about love, found family, and immeasurable revenge.

Brynja spent her childhood as a captive performer in Tenebris, the imposing mountain palace of King Kallias. Every night she risked death for the king’s entertainment until his rebellious son, Prince Ballast, helped her escape. Now twenty, Brynja has never forgotten the brutal king. Or forgiven him. Under the cloak of a three-month-long Winter Dark, Brynja is returning to Tenebris for revenge.

Accompanied by a rival court, including the alluring Prince Vil, Brynja poses as diplomatic royalty to barter peace between nations. No one is better equipped to infiltrate the palace than Brynja―she remembers every hidden passage like a bad dream. But her quest to destroy Kallias is complicated by her feelings for Prince Ballast, whom she isn’t sure she can still trust. And Kallias’s own quest to mine a catastrophic weapon of war buried in the mountain’s heart will threaten them all, and force Brynja to face the darkest parts of herself.

The lives of everyone she loves depend on the choices she must make. So, too, does the fate of the world.

Review

Welcome to my first book review of 2026! This was a book I downloaded from the First Reads which is done by Amazon and I must admit has been really useful since having my baby. My Kindle has been abandoned and I now just use my Kindle app on my phone because whenever I get nap trapped I have my phone with me so I can read a book.

When I started this book I was unsure whether I would like it but I am so pleased I continued with it because I soon became hooked. I loved the world building in the book and learning about the different kingdoms. I did find the whole god system rather confusing and did think that perhaps there were rather too many of them. I did however like learning some of the histories of the gods.

Brynja is a fantastic character who has suffered a great deal in her short life but by her own inner strength and the kindness of a select few she has survived to become a strong and independent woman. This version of Brynja is a big surprise to certain people from her past which becomes clear as the story goes on.

A character I did not particularly like was Prince Vil. Vil always appeared rather false to me and one I found difficult to trust. Prince Ballast on the other hand was a character I always trusted and felt really sorry for as he had such a rough deal in the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the second in the series when it comes out. Joanna Ruth Meyer is a new author for me but I will definitely return to. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

About the author

Joanna Ruth Meyer is the author of five YA fantasies, including the critically acclaimed ECHO NORTH. She lives in Mesa, AZ, with her husband, son, two orange cats, and a giant grand piano named Prince Imrahil. She loves forests and rainstorms and stories that make her feel things, and in all likelihood, she’s drinking tea right now.

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Just Out of Jupiter’s Reach by Nnedi Okorafor (Review)

Just Out of Jupiter’s Reach by Nnedi Okorafor

Blurb

Tornado Onwubiko is one of seven people on Earth paired with sentient ships to explore and research the cosmos for twenty million euros. A decade of solitary life for a lifetime of wealth. Five years into the ten-year mission of total isolation comes a a temporary meetup among fellow travelers. A lot can happen in a week. For Tornado, who left a normal life behind, a little company can be life-changing.

Review

This is the fifth book of The Far Reaches collection and my first book by Okorafor. I also think this book is my favourite of the collection. I would have loved this to have been a full length novel as I just wanted to know so much more.

The first thing I loved about this short story was the science and technology involved in the living ships called Miris. The ships really reminded me of one of my favourite TV shows Farscape. I really found the Miris fascinating and I would love to have learned more about them. I loved how each Miri adapted to whomever lived in them and made things comfortable for them.

Each captain of the Miris is on the ship on their own although some do have pets, they also have AI on board to help them. I loved the story and found the characters unique and interesting. There were a couple of scenes that I found quite sad but they also just added to the story. The story might only be 45 pages long but it really packed a lot in and I enjoyed Okoafor’s idea of what humans travelling the universe would be like and what they might encounter. I really enjoyed this short story and I will definitely be reading more by Okorafor in the near future. I give this story 5 out of 5 Dragons.

🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

About the author

Nnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ.

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Little One by Fiona Holloway (Review)

Little One by Fiona Holloway

Blurb

Seven years ago, Isabel Warren’s life unraveled in a single afternoon. Now she’s back reliving the same nightmare again…

She left the past behind, changed her name, and started over in a quiet town with her husband and their young son, Noah. But when he vanishes from their backyard without a trace, Isabel is forced to confront a terrifying some shadows never stay buried.

As suspicion tightens around her once again and whispers of her past grow louder, Isabel knows this is no random disappearance. Someone out there knows who she is. Someone has been watching. Waiting.

Now, to save her child, Isabel must unravel a mystery that began long before Noah was born and before the world decided who she was.

Haunting and propulsive, Little One is a chilling psychological thriller about buried secrets, fractured identity, and the impossible choices that define a mother’s love.

Review

I discovered this book from an advert on Facebook and when I saw it was only 99p on Kindle I decided to buy it for a holiday read.

I really wanted to like this book and was excited by what I read in the blurb but the amount of errors in this book was off the scale. I have never read a book with so many errors in. The storyline was so promising and even though I could see what was happening with the plot I really got into it but then the errors began.

The first half of the book was excellent but once the half way mark was passed the story became rushed and full of errors. It was almost like another had taken over and hadn’t reviewed what had been written before.

One of the mistakes was that the children started off as 3 and 5 years of age and then later in the book they became twins. Another error was that Isabel described how she met her husband in two entirely different ways. She also described how long Isabel had known Claire in two different time lengths. There were other errors as well.

I honestly don’t think the author had read her work back after reaching the end of writing and don’t think anyone looked over it for her before going to publish. This book had such promise but was severely let down by the errors and the errors really detracted from the story. I give this book 2 out of 5 Dragons.

🐲🐲

About the author

Fiona Holloway has written one standalone novel so far. This novel is called Little One and it was released in 2025.

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Beach Hut 512 by Dorothy Koomson (Review)

Beach Hut 512 by Dorothy Koomson

Blurb

When vandals destroy beach hut 512 on Brighton’s iconic seafront, they reveal a dead body that has apparently lain undisturbed for two months. But according to the hut’s owner, Sims, its locks rusted shut three months ago and she hasn’t had access to it since. So how could the man have got in, and why is there no evidence of the murderer?

Sims has spent the past three years recovering from the trauma of being targeted by a serial killer and narrowly escaping with her life. But this grim discovery feels like too much of a could the person who put the body in her hut be the same man who wants her dead? In a desperate race against time, can she uncover the truth behind beach hut 512 before a murderer with a chilling obsession strikes again?

Review

I got this short story on the Amazon Prime First Reads scheme and I’m really pleased I did as it was a good introduction to a new author for me.

I always struggle with short stories as I get frustrated when a story feels rushed and some authors are just not great short story writers but this was not the case with Koomson’s short story. This short story was brilliantly written and didn’t feel rushed or like details were missing. The story was well rounded and lacked for nothing.

The story goes between current events and past events. The past shows Sims as a Chemistry professor who was targeted by a serial killer but she survived. Sadly the serial killer escaped and is still on the run. The current events show Sims discovering her beach hut vandalised but what she didn’t expect was a dead body to be in her beach hut. She has no idea how the body got there as the locks on the hut have been rusted shut for 3 months and apparently the body has been in the hut for 2 months. Sims must work out what is going on.

At the beginning I did find Sims a little odd but once I realised her past trauma I understood her more and understood her actions. She really was a fascinating character. I also really liked the idea of a locked room (beach hut) mystery and it really reminded me of a Jonathan Creek episode.

I really enjoyed this short story and give it 4 out of 5 Dragons.

🐲🐲🐲🐲

About the author

Dorothy Koomson (born 1971 in London) is a contemporary British novelist of Ghanaian descent. She has been described as “Britain’s biggest selling black author of adult fiction”.

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 5/7/2025

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.

Hello!

I have been busy buying Kindle books this week ready for my holidays and I’m sure I will probably buy a few more before I go. Here are the ones I have bought so far and they are all new authors for me.

Who Is the Liar by Laura Lee Bahr
While The Dark Remains by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Under the Lemon Tree by Emma Cowell

I’m quite excited to get reading these so hopefully I manage to read them whilst on holiday.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

July 2025 TBR

Hello!

I have a holiday planned in July and work is winding down for the Summer so I am really planning on a lot of reading this month. I have kindle books and physical books planned.

Kindle reads

Vertigo by G. S. Jennsen
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Compulsory by Martha Wells
Lessons by Ian McEwan

Physical Reads

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
The Cardinal by Alison Weir

Hopefully I might even be able to read more than just this selection.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

June 2025 Wrap up

Hello!

I will be honest I didn’t manage nearly as much reading as I had planned in June and I only managed to tick 2 books off my 20 Books of Summer challenge. I am on holiday in July and I am planning a lot of poolside reading so hopefully it will be a better reading month.

Statistics

Books

Pages: 97

Format Read: Kindle

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

New Book

Pages: 704

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

Old Book

Pages: 31

Format Read: Kindle

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

New Book

Pages: 402

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

Old Book

Goodreads Challenge: 28/50

Old Books: 2

New Books: 2

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 21/6/25

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have been looking at Kindle offers to stock up my Kindle ready for my holiday next month. I haven’t found many that appeal to me yet but I will keep looking. Here is what I have gone for so far.

I have always been a fan of Dan Jones so I am looking forward to reading his book on the Plantagenets. I haven’t done much historical reading this year so I am looking forward to getting back into it.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 24/5/2025

Hello!

I had one preordered book arrive this week and I also bought a new kindle book as I am absolutely hooked on a new series.

Waterstones Book

I’m really excited to read this because I love the books by Alison Weir. I will also be taking this book to hopefully be signed by Alison Weir when I go to a history talk in July.

Kindle Book

I am just over half way through the first book of this series and I can’t put it down so I really wanted the next book ready to read.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 10/5/2025

Hello!

I am in full holiday planning mode and this means loading up the old Kindle with some lovely books. I got my Kindle in 2018 so it is getting rather old and cranky but I’m hoping it will be ok for another holiday in the sun.

Kindle Books

I found a Murderbot short story which I knew I needed to get as I love the Murderbot books. I have also always wanted to read a book by Isaac Asimov so I have gone with this one to see if I like it. I’m sure I will load some more books on the Kindle before the holiday but I think these are a good start.

Physical Book

We are going to Rhodes in the summer so I thought I better get a book to do some research and get planning!

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you