Started reading "halted state" by Charles Stross, but the 2nd person narrative killed it for me. I also didn't find the theme of a crime in an open world game too appealing, so it went to the "didn't finish" pile. Stayed with the writer and read "escape from yokai land" next, which was a blast, I'm a huge fan of the Bob Howard books in the Laundry Files. Now reading "a conventional boy", the latest installment in this series. So far so good, but I'm only a few chapters in.

I'm on a long re-read of the R.A. Salvatore Drizzt series. Right now it's: The Orc King (Transitions, Book1 - #17 in the wider series).

I was on vacation for a little over 2 weeks and went through 6 books on the trip. Trains, planes, coffee shops, and hotel room before bed. It's surprising how much reading can get done in-between exploring new cities.

I just whipped through A Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid which was a fun queer enemies to lovers story that I listened to driving back and forth across Pennsylvania this weekend.

I'm still working on Half The World by Joe Ambercrombie. I think I'm going to take a break on his stuff for a bit after I finish this one.

Just finished crime and punishment by Dostoyevsky, started with Notes from the House of the Dead. Both in Arabic. Couldn't understand them in English. lol

I’m reading Road to Ruin by Hana Lee. I picked this up at a romance bookstore the last book crawl because the cover and summary on the back seemed interesting. It was a good choice!

I’m really digging it. Kind of like a Mad Max type world where people use magic to keep their cities safe. The main character is a sparkrider who uses her magic to fuel a motorcycle she uses to deliver items between cities. I’m about a third of the way through and I am enjoying it a lot.

I'm reading The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan (Empire of the Wolf book 2). I like it so far. The plot is interesting and the way the story told from a future perspective so you get little hints at what is to come. I wish the romance was either better written or absent. It's not built up at all and feels like more of a plot device than genuine feeling from the characters.

Reading through the Wizard of Oz series with my kids. Currently on Jack Pumpkinhead. When I was young I only read the movie related books, reading more of the world is a fun experience to share with my kiddos.

Would recommend as a children's book, but not something I'd read absent their influence.

I spent most of the week craving a specific vibe, so I tried and put down a bunch of things that weren't quite it. Ended up settling on The Ways of Khrem by D. Nathan Hilliard, even though it's not what I wanted either; it's holding my interest, though, so I'm satisfied.

__

Finished The Secret Servant by Gavin Lyall (Cold War thriller) | bingo: different continent, motion picture, war, alliterative, steppin' up HM, political

An Army Major is seconded to the Prime Minister's office, where he's directed to look into rumors surrounding a new member of the nuclear advisement committee.

Outside of the unusual premise, which I liked, this felt pretty bog-standard old-school spy thriller. Some chapters near the end could have been condensed into a few paragraphs, and a couple of bits haven't aged super well (but no slurs, for a change!). Overall, I found this 'fine', but nothing I'd recommend.

I just read Clemens P Suter’s Two Journeys, and will start on the second installment Rebound. It’s an unusual sci-fi adventure, about real people, not superheroes, action packed lots of eye candy

I'm currently reading Martyr! I'm about two thirds of the way through. I like it, but I definitely like all the other characters more than the main guy.

Currently reading Paranormal Outcasts the complete series (Sean Fletcher), after this I have Butter Cookies and Demon Claws (Peter V. Brett) and Tailored Realities (Brandon Sanderson) as my next to reads and that will hopefully be enough for the rest of the year.