The Themverse Don’t you know the world was never ours? Not really, not in the long view of things. After all, Humanity has only existed for a speck of time. At most we’re renters on this planet, on…

Favourite Character Cecilia Cecilia is a former Yolsh (that’s policemen for us humans) dragged back into working with her old colleagues when a Dollhouse (brothel, I told you this wasn’t a kid’s bo…

Charlotte Burnett is 24, dyslexic, and has previously been published in journals like The Write Launch and Coffin Bell Journal. She is currently studying for an Open Degree with the Open University…

What ho, Wee Readers, and welcome to the first (the first part in fact) in hopefully many such blog posts. I spoke about perusing a more in-depth look at some of the books that I read at the start …

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes Goodreads Blurb: 'Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married'. But for four women in particular, the big news about the charismatic politician is especially momentous... Stylist Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy's marrying - because she's his girlfriend, yet she definitely isn't the bride-to-be ...

Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves Goodreads Blurb: When the Flemings--designer Helena and architect Daniel--move into a remote community in the north of Shetland, they think it's a fresh start for themselves and their children. But their arrival triggers resentment, and Helena begins to receive small drawings of a gallows and a hanged man. Gossip spreads like wildfire. A story of dysfunctional families and fractured relationships, Inspector Jimmy Perez's eighth case will intrigue series fans and Shetland Island newcomers alike.

Inside Out: The Junior Novelization by Suzanne Francis Goodreads Blurb: Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out will take you to a place that everyone knows but no one has ever seen: inside the mind of an eleven-year-old! Once there, you'll meet the five Emotions that know Riley best: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust! Also features eight pages of full-color scenes from the movie.

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory Goodreads Blurb: Three Women Who Share One Fate: The Boleyn Inheritance Anne of Cleves She runs from her tiny country, her hateful mother, and her abusive brother to a throne whose last three occupants are dead. King Henry VIII, her new husband, instantly dislikes her. Without friends, family, or even an understanding of the language being spoken around her, she must literally save her neck in a court ruled by a deadly game of politics and the terror of an unpredictable and vengeful king.

William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher Goodreads Blurb: Hot on the heels of the New York Times best seller William Shakespeare’s Star Wars comes the next two installments of the original trilogy: William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back and William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return. Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter.

Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves Goodreads Blurb: In the dark days of a Shetland winter, torrential rain triggers a landslide that crosses the road and sweeps down to the sea. At the burial of his old friend Magnus Tait, Jimmy Perez watches the flood of mud and peaty water smash through a croft house in its path. Everyone thinks the croft is uninhabited, but in the wreckage he finds the body of a dark-haired woman wearing a red silk dress.

Coco: A Story about Music, Shoes, and Family by Diana López Goodreads Blurb: Disney*Pixar's Coco is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. (Goodreads Page) Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Goodreads Review: Oh God - and I thought the film could make me sob. A book that perfectly captures the spirit of the film as well as adding a whole new range of fascinating details.

Thomas Cromwell: A Life by Diarmaid MacCulloch Goodreads Blurb: Thomas Cromwell is one of the most famous - or notorious - figures in English history. Born in obscurity in Putney, he became a fixer for Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520s. After Wolsey's fall, Henry VIII promoted him to a series of ever greater offices, such that in the 1530s he was effectively running the country for the King.

The Magnificent Nine by James Lovegrove Goodreads Blurb: An old flame of Jayne Cobb's, Temperance McCloud, sends a message to Serenity, begging him for help. She lives on the arid, far-flung world of Tethys, and bandits are trying to overrun her town to gain control of their water supply: the only thing standing between its people and dustbowl ruin. Jayne tries to persuade the Serenity crew to join the fight, but it is only when he offers Vera, his favourite gun, as collateral that Mal realizes he's serious.

Odyssey by Stephen Fry Goodreads Blurb: Read the final book in Stephen Fry's acclaimed internationally brestselling Greek Myths series telling the story of the Odyssey—Can a hero find his way home? Follow Odysseus after he leaves the fallen city of Troy and takes ten long dramatic years—battling monsters, the temptations of goddesses and suffering the curse of Poseidon—to voyage home to his wife Penelope on the island of Ithaca.

Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang Goodreads Blurb: Assimilating ain’t easy. Eddie Huang was raised by a wild family of FOB (“fresh off the boat”) immigrants—his father a cocksure restaurateur with a dark past back in Taiwan, his mother a fierce protector and constant threat. Young Eddie tried his hand at everything mainstream America threw his way, from white Jesus to macaroni and cheese, but finally found his home as leader of a rainbow coalition of lost boys up to no good: skate punks, dealers, hip-hop junkies, and sneaker freaks.

The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker Goodreads Blurb: An Egyptologist, attempting to raise from the dead the mummy of Tera, an ancient Egyptian queen, finds a fabulous gem and is stricken senseless by an unknown force. Amid bloody and eerie scenes, his daughter is possessed by Tera's soul, and her fate depends upon bringing Tera's mummified body to life.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Goodreads Blurb: As a young horse, Black Beauty is well-loved and happy. But when his owner is forced to sell him, his life changes drastically. He has many new owners—some of them cruel and some of them kind. All he needs is someone to love him again.... Whether pulling an elegant carriage or a ramshackle cab, Black Beauty tries to live as best he can.

Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule Goodreads Blurb: It is a golden age. Intrepid hyperspace scouts expand the reach of the Republic to the farthest stars, worlds flourish under the benevolent leadership of the Senate, and peace reigns, enforced by the wisdom and strength of the renowned order of Force users known as the Jedi. With the Jedi at the height of their power, the free citizens of the galaxy are confident in their ability to weather any storm.

Pack Darling: Part Two by Lola Rock Goodreads Blurb: After a disaster of a first heat, I’m ready to swear off alphas and escape to a cabin in the woods. My body has other plans. Now that I’m awakened, I can’t survive another heat alone. Problem is, I hate alphas, hate packs, and really super hate the so-called mates I can’t forgive and can’t forget.

The Raven in the Foregate by Ellis Peters Goodreads Blurb: It is Christmas, A.D. 1141, Abbot Radulfus returns from London, bringing with him a priest for the vacant living of Holy Cross, also known as the Foregate. The new priest is a man of presence, learning, and discipline, but he lacks humility and the common touch. When he is found drowned in the millpond, suspicion is cast upon a young man who arrived with the priest's train and was sent to work in Brother Cadfael's garden.

Pack Darling: Part One by Lola Rock Goodreads Blurb: After surviving childhood at the snooty, stuck-up boarding school for budding omegas, I have everyone convinced I’m a dud. My awakening? Never gonna happen. Heat, mates, and a fairytale pack life? Maybe next reincarnation. All I want is to be left alone. I’m invisible, headed to a blissful solo future until the Wyvern Pack destroys my dream of independence.

When First I Met My King by Harper Fox Goodreads Blurb: Once upon a time, there was a winter that wouldn’t end. And all that’s standing between the people of White Meadows and starvation is a young man called Lance. He’s sixteen years old, and for all his courage and hunting skills, he’s running out of fight. His family has been wiped out in a border raid, and he’s drowning in loneliness.

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back by Elizabeth Schaefer (Editor) Goodreads Blurb: On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers recreate an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back, through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains to droids and creatures.

Young Man’s Fancy by Richard Matheson Goodreads Blurb: A recently married man misses his dead mother and his childhood so much that he can't seem to live in the here and now, causing untold horror for his new bride. (Goodreads Page) Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: I went into this thing thinking it was going to be the mother that was the crazy possessive one - boy was I wrong.

Number 12 Looks Just Like You by Charles Beaumont Goodreads Blurb: In a future society where everyone must undergo an operation at the age of nineteen to make them look like everyone else, one young woman desperately tries to hang on to her own identity. (Goodreads Page) Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: I know her constantly mistaking other women for her mother was supposed to highlight the terror of a world where most everybody looks the same but I couldn’t help feeling like it just made the main character seem like she hadn’t grown up in this world.

Who Am I? By Jerry Sohl Goodreads Blurb: A young businessman wakes up one morning and has a completely different face—but only "he" thinks it's different from before. (Goodreads Page) Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: My God is this a weird one - even for the twilight zone. Though I have to say I like the twist at the end, it’s nicely foreshadowed in the Doctor’s office.

From a Certain Point of View by Elizabeth Schaefer (Editor) Goodreads Blurb: Forty years. Forty stories. On May 25, 1977, the world was introduced to Han, Luke, Leia, a pair of droids, a Wookiee, an old wizard, a villain in black, and a galaxy full of possibilities. Forty years on, Star Wars remains an unparalleled cultural phenomenon, having inspired and influenced generations of fans and creators.

The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory Goodreads Blurb: The latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory features one of the most famous girls in history, Lady Jane Grey, and her two sisters, each of whom dared to defy her queen. Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king’s half sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Musical Drama by H.G. Wells and Jeff Wayne Goodreads Blurb: An Audible Original Drama One of the world’s most recognisable sci-fi stories, H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds established numerous conventions for the genre, including the threat of an invasive extraterrestrial species, space travel and intergalactic conflict, inspiring directors, gamers, producers and writers alike with its sobering story of struggle and survival.

Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn Goodreads Blurb: Ominous words under any circumstances, but all the more so when uttered by Emperor Palpatine. On Batuu, at the edges of the Unknown Regions, a threat to the Empire is taking root—its existence little more than a glimmer, its consequences as yet unknowable. But it is troubling enough to the Imperial leader to warrant investigation by his most powerful agents: ruthless enforcer Lord Darth Vader and brilliant strategist Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman Goodreads Blurb: DRACULA COMES TO NEW YORK: Kim Newman returns to one of the great bestselling vampire tales of the modern era. Considered alongside I Am Legend and Interview with theVampire as one of the stand-out vampire stories of the last century - this brand-new novel is the first in over a decade from the remarkable and influential Anno Dracula series.

Aftermath by Chuck Wendig Goodreads Blurb: As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance—now a fledgling New Republic—presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he’s taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.

The Shinning by Stephen King Goodreads Blurb: Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote...and more sinister.

Earth Abides by George R. Stewart Goodreads Blurb: A disease of unparalleled destructive force has sprung up almost simultaneously in every corner of the globe, all but destroying the human race. One survivor, strangely immune to the effects of the epidemic, ventures forward to experience a world without man. What he ultimately discovers will prove far more astonishing than anything he'd either dreaded or hoped for.

Thin Air by Ann Cleeves Goodreads Blurb: A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London and travel to Unst, Shetland's most northerly island, to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends to a Shetlander. But late on the night of the wedding party, one of them, Eleanor, disappears - apparently into thin air. It's mid-summer, a time of light nights and unexpected mists.

Dead Water by Ann Cleeves Goodreads Blurb: Ann Cleeves returns to her critically acclaimed Shetland Island series with this stunning mystery featuring Inspector Jimmy Perez, who readers will remember from Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones, and Blue Lightning. When the body of a journalist is found, Detective Inspector Willow Reeves is drafted from outside to head up the investigation. Inspector Jimmy Perez has been out of the loop, but his local knowledge is needed in this case, and he decides to help Willow.

Pet Sematary by Stephen King Goodreads Blurb: When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son-and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly car. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth-more terrifying than death itself-and hideously more powerful.

The Idylls of the Queen: A Tale of Queen Guenevere by Phyllis Ann Karr Goodreads Blurb: In The Idylls of the Queen, Phyllis Ann Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy.

Big Bad by Lily Anderson Goodreads Blurb: Demondale, Callifornia, 1999...Like Sunnydale, but whole lot more evil. Step into this alternate reality, where chaos reigns supreme. The Mayor’s sun-shade has created permanent darkness over Sunnydale, fully opening the Hellmouth once and for all. Now the newly christened Demondale has become a safe haven for vampires, beasts, and all types of ruffians. It's never been better to be bad.

Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves Goodreads Blurb: Murder can strike more than once... Shetland Detective Jimmy Perez knows it will be a difficult homecoming when he returns to the Fair Isles to introduce his fiancée, Fran, to his parents. It’s a community where everyone knows each other, and strangers, while welcomed, are still viewed with a degree of mistrust. Challenging to live on at the best of times, with the autumn storms raging, the island feels cut off from the rest of the world.

World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters Goodreads Blurb: There are just 14 days until a deadly asteroid hits the planet, and America has fallen into chaos. Citizens have barricaded themselves inside basements, emergency shelters, and big-box retail stores. Cash is worthless; bottled water is valuable beyond measure. All over the world, everyone is bracing for the end. But Detective Hank Palace still has one last case to solve.

Countdown City by Ben H. Winters Goodreads Blurb: There are just 77 days to go before a deadly asteroid collides with Earth, and Detective Hank Palace is out of a job. With the Concord police force operating under the auspices of the U.S. Justice Department, Hank's days of solving crimes are over...until a woman from his past begs for help finding her missing husband.

Lane Kim is one of the best characters on the show and I will stand on this hill and fight you on that point, if I have to. Oh, no one wants to fight me? We all agree that Lane Kim is often the best part of any scene she’s in and that her story of finding and building her own life, her own love and joy, away from the restrictions of her childhood far from falling short of what it could have been actually holds up even in the horror that was ‘A Year in a Life’?

The Man, the Myth, the Legend. A Good Father? Debate able to the extreme. A Good Grandfather? Heck yes. This man, more than any other man in her life forged Rory Gilmore into the woman she is today. Which now that I’m actually writing it down seems less of a compliment than it was really intended to be. I mean sure she’s a spoiled, self-centred, cow, who thinks the world revolves around herself but … at least she appreciates a good book.

Sookie St. James Truth time, I first encountered the talented Melissa McCarthy on a little show called Mike & Molly - so you can imagine both my surprise and delight in finding her face amongst the residents of Stars Hollow. However my fondness for Ms. St. James goes beyond merely her actress - whether she’s terrorising her kitchen staff with her accident prone ways, falling in love with the most repugnant man in a town that includes Taylor, or repeatedly getting pregnant Ms St.