Pots and Plots

‘The Cracked Mirror’ by Chris Brookmyre ‘The Cracked Mirror’ by Chris Brookmyre smashes together two staples of crime fiction to create an ingenious addictive thriller that will blow your mind.

I'm now up to a mighty 2 reviews on my new blog, PotsandPlots. This time for @brookmyre.bsky.social's excellent 'The Cracked Mirror' #booksky #bookreview #crimefiction @chrisbrookmyrehttps://potsandplotsblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/30/the-cracked-mirror-by-chris-brookmyre/

As a member of the progressive audience I feel very grifted.

I also like the comparison to David Gemmel. Even more so now I know it will make Patrick vomit.

I hope I haven't oversold it 😀

Morning Womble! I'm reading Chris Brookmyre's "The Cracked Mirror" which is the most intriguing and engaging novel I've read in a while.

‘All That We See or Seem’ by Ken Liu Ken Liu’s ‘All That We See or Seem’ is a bleak look of the power of AI, enlsavement to tech and the inexorable rise of enshittification.

I have started writing reviews at a new location. My PotsandPlots blog is live! My first review is for "All That We See or Seem" by @kyliu99.bsky.social. from @headofzeus.bsky.social

potsandplotsblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/a...

#sff #booksky

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a woman with glasses is smoking a cigarette and the words it 's in the vault are behind her ALT: a woman with glasses is smoking a cigarette and the words it 's in the vault are behind her

@dougjohnstone.bsky.social fans ASSEMBLE!

We are planning a very special cover reveal next Friday (31st) and would LOVE for YOU to be involved.

To find out more, fill in this form and we'll be in touch soon with more information 📖 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

#BookSky please like & RT 🙌

‘The Last Book:’ A Book Review Is 'The Last Book' a book or a work of of art? Why not both? Check out this beautiful rumination on what makes us human.

I've struggled to write review recently - but I definitely wanted to shout about the beautiful "The Last Book." Truly a work of art from Hungry Minds. geekdad.com/2025/10/the-...

I've been painting up some #warhammerunderworlds minis from the latest Spitewood boxed set that GW sent us to review.

My current read -
The conclusion of the GAEL SONG trilogy
THE LAND OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
by the awesome
@shaunalawless.bsky.social !!

Will see after this final volume
if this series ends up being an all-time fav...
It is certainly on track to get there!

I am about halfway through "All that we See or Seem" by Ken Liu. Sometimes it feels on the verge of becoming too technical but so far I'm hooked!

Morning Womble, I had covid most of the week and convalesced with Django Wexler's "Dark Lord Davi" duology. This morning I'm keeping it light with the newest Malloy Vayle book by Martin Howard. Fun kids ghost story in time for Halloween.

Set in a ravaged future ruled by the descendants of those who caused the climate collapse, #TheHope asks it asks the most urgent question of all: what if there’s still time?

The searing finale to Paul Hardisty's #ClimateEmergency trilogy, out 29/01

🌎 bit.ly/48mRk0m

#Booksky #Dystopian #Thriller

#CoverReveal

`A riveting eco-thriller [that] paints a realistic picture of our future if society as a whole continues to ignore scientific warnings about global warming´ Crime Fiction Lover

Available to pre-order now 👇

The Hope: geni.us/g264BA

@orendabooks.bsky.social

A copy of the damned king by Justin Lee Anderson

Just finished the excellent The Damned King by @justinleeanderson.com - by turns twisty and brutal, filled with flawed and broken people trying to do the right thing in the face of overwhelming awfulness - that maybe has a few parallels to present day, given truth matters so little to some.

Review - The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss The Second Chance Cinema Thea Weiss HarperCollins, 7 October 2025 Available as: PB, 320pp, audio, e Source: Advance copy ISBN(PB): 978000876...

Happy publication day to
@writtenbythea.bsky.social for #romance The Second Chance Cinema, from @harpercollins.bsky.social. A #magic midnight cinema? A couple with unacknowledged second thoughts? A chance to make it all right? A beautiful read? Yes! bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2025/10/revi...

While the stories aren't directly linked, there are some common themes to pick out, most notably pocket habitats. Powell's writing, as ever, is effortless reading, and it was great to see his creativity spark time and time again.

Like the water droplets on my heavenly bamboo plant, the stories in this book are small but perfectly formed. I'm not generally a reader of short stories, but I enjoyed almost all these. The final story is particularly strong, as is another about time-travelling vampires.

Unfortunately, I'm having to take a break from long-form reviews, but I have a few books I'm slated to review that I'd like to shout about, starting with "Who Will You Save?," a collection of short stories by @garethlpowell.bsky.social from @titanbooks.bsky.social . #sff #booksky

I've been painting the fence and planting spring bulbs as an alternative, which has been very therapeutic.

I've been in a reading/reviewing crisis for the last 10 days, so I dropped everything and picked up Rachel Kushner's "Creation Lake." From what I've read about it, it will either kill or cure me!

Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline. The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

we have gone from a world in which we were told not to cite wikipedia because it was unreliable to a world where wikipedia might be the only reliable source left on the internet and we all owe a lot to the pedantic nerds who got us there

Morning Womble. Changeover day for me again today. Finished "Who Will You Save? By Gareth L Powell with my morning cuppa and now about to start the second Impossible Creatures book.

‘The Transcendent Tide:’ A Book Review 'The Transcendent Tide' is the thrilling conclusion Doug Johnston's 'Enceladons' trilogy. A trio of moving "first contact" stories.

New review time - 'The Transcendent Tide,' the final part of the Enceladons trilogy by @dougjohnstone.bsky.social from @orendabooks.bsky.social

I really enjoyed this trio of first contact novels about the best and worst of humanity. geekdad.com/2025/09/the-... #sff #booksky

Stayed up late finishing 'Daughter of the Otherworld' by @shaunalawless.bsky.social.
A great transition into a new era of the Gael Song saga.
I'm so invested in these characters' lives, it's almost painful. Once again, the end has left me hanging out for more! #booksky @headofzeus.bsky.social

‘The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good:’ A Book Review I've been fortunate enough to hit a rich vein of children's fiction in recent weeks, and I've arguably saved the best for last. The Strange Disappearance of Imo

A review for a cracking book has gone up today! 'The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good' by Kirsty Applebaum is a gothic mystery that keeps the reader captured throughout. Out now from @nosycrow.bsky.social geekdad.com/2025/09/the-... #booksky

Morning Womble, I am reading 'Daughter of the Otherworld' by the always excellent Shauna Lawless. It's the beginning of a new chapter following on from her wonderful Irish fantasy folklore 'Gael Song' trilogy.

‘The Book of Stolen Dreams:’ A Book Review I'm sure my mind is playing tricks on me. I definitely remember reviewing The Secret of the Blood Key by David Farr, but as I look back through my GeekDad posts

Been working hard on my #childrensbook reviews this week. Here's another for @davidfarr.bsky.social's excellent "Book of Stolen Dreams" trilogy. All three are available now from Usborne Books #booksky

geekdad.com/2025/09/the-...

Well, I guess I can talk about it now. Out in December, date tbc. Do you believe in miracles?

‘Oxford Blood:’ A Book Review 'Oxford Blood' is a compelling murder mystery set amongst the spires of a modernizing Oxford University. It's an entertaining and thoughtful YA thriller.

Sometimes it feels like reviewing a book is like putting an umbrella up in a hurricane, but I wrote another one, so here it is! #YA thriller 'Oxford Blood' by Rachael Davis Featherstone from @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social #booksky geekdad.com/2025/09/oxfo...