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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 21h

"Unwavering is the monument's aim; to reject truth in righteousness." The Immortality Paradox is available to preorder now at Barnard Publishing! Launched on December the 1st! #booksky #debutnovel #scifi #poetry

A medieval great hall with a tessellated grey tile pattern on the floor, leading to a short dais of two thrones. Walls either side are lined with wooden panelling and high windows allowing yellow sunlight to stream through. Six windows are placed above the dais, surrounding a banner emblazoned with a coat of arms. The ceiling is comprised of wooden beams carved in an arch shape and fastened there by supports. A quotation at the top of the image reads: "Diymod yw nôd yr heneb, I wrthod gwir yng nghywirdeb." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

"A thread of desolation draws forth anguish, the responsibility of mortal existence." What secrets does this poem hold? Find out in The Immortality Paradox - Coming December 1st! Image copyright: Oleg Pavlove #Debutnovel #Scifi #Booksky #Poetry

A black and white image of a hospital ward. A single bed with a sheet across it lies empty at the centre, and is surrounded by wired machinery. The room is lit by a single uncovered window, the atmosphere is cold and unwelcoming. A quote at the bottom reads: "Edau anial yn denu loes, Cyfrifoldeb meidroldeb moes." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A map of the capital city of Arena: Lleno de Vida. This location features prominently in my debut novel: The Immortality Paradox! Grateful to me lovely dad for providing his architectural expertise in designing these! #Debutnovel #Scifi #FantasyMaps #Booksky

Ink drawing of a map of Lleno de Vida. A flowering of streets is centred in a surrounding of mountains to the north, west and east, and an empty desert lies to the south, called El Cementerio. The city has many district, with streets criss-crossing in a grid-like shape. A single castle resides to the north east on the cusp of mountains. A single causeway leads out of the north, curving towards Beber Valley.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"On mountain peak; a warning of onslaught, and a wizard's tempest, dark and grim." The mysteries of The Immortality Paradox are found in these words. Coming December 2026, preorders soon! #Debutnovel #Scifi #Booksky #Poetry

The shadow of a mountain, hidden behind a haze of snow from the perspective of a valley. Trees reach as far as halfway up and cover the valley below, creating a v-shape. The sky is grey and cloudy, with distinct specks of snow falling in the foreground. A quotation at the bottom reads "Ar gopa mynydd; rhybudd cyrch, a drycin dewin dilewyrch." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"The boy-king, endowed with baleful privilege, with a servant of quiet lineage, unfailing." Translated from an ancient poem. Find out more in The Immortality Paradox, coming December 2026. Image copyright: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz #DebutNovel #Booksky #Scifi #Poetry

A grand, sprawling palace of white marble, and copper-tinged rooves each with a pinnacle. A garden unfolds in the foreground, with stone steps leading down from the palace entrance to a fountain display. Lush, green lawns surround it in all directions. A grey sky above is filled with the quotation: "Y brnein crwt, a breintiwyd mall, â gwas taweldras yn ddiball." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Sneak peek of the next map in my debut novel, The Immortality Paradox. This is the city of Lleno de Vida, capital of Arena. More coming soon! Novel coming December 2026! #DebutNovel #Booksky #Scifi #FantasyMap

An ink drawing of a mountainous landscape surrounding a castle labelled "Castillo Hombro", with a winding road leading to its summit. To the left, the edge of a civilisation is visible.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Those looking for great indie books, check out Barnard Publishing! New releases include Before Heavens Gate and 50 Reasons to Live, along with one coming soon: The Histories of Us! Check them out here: www.barnardpublishing.co.uk?v=7885444af42e #Indiepublishers #Newbooks #IndieAuthors

A white horse with a majestic mane appears from the inside of a red, curling wave. This image is set into a background and dotted with faint glimpses of musical notes, which is also surround the novel's title "50 Reasons to Live". At the bottom, written onto piano keys, aligned horizontally across the cover, is "by Emyr Payne".

Upon a brown hill, three armed and uniformed soldiers with helmets fight off a horde of insectoid creatures, some approaching from behind while the soldiers look on in desperation. Some of the creatures' bodies lie in crumpled heaps underneath their feet. An angry red and black sky resides in the background. The title Before Heavens Gate is written at the top.

A colourful book cover, with a woman shaded in pink, looking down and reading a book of purple in her hands. Beneath her; a cut out of a house in a collage-like array of colours, such as a green roof, yellow doors and pink and yellow brickwork. The title scrawled across the front is "The Histories of Us" and the author at the top left: "C. J. Salf"

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Linguist Ritu Kartal has translated the eighth part of the ancient poem. "A powerful weapon, fragile armour; secret origin, a blade of the common folk." Coming soon in The Immortality Paradox. Image copyright: Luca Photo. #Booksky #DebutNovel #Scifi #Poetry

A ceiling of blue and white ice, rolling like waves. A single stalactite, sharp and fierce, protrudes from the centre. At the bottom, a quotation reads: "Arf grymus, arfogaeth bregus; Tarddiad cyfrin, llain gwerin rhus." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The mystery of the Immortality Paradox deepens. Part seven of the poem: "An innocent, blind and lawful stronghold. A bold, profound message its choice." Coming December 2026! #Debunovel #Booksky #Poetry #ScFi

A stone building, curving in a quarter circle with cubby holes sat under curved archways. A clear path winds around the perimeter, with a strange art piece to the right. Above, a grey sky is the background to a tall, leafy tree. In the bottom right corner, a quotation reads: "Caer diniwed, dall a deddfol. Neges eofn, dofn yn dethol." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Let me introduce you to one of the planets in my debut novel! E'blanche - home-world of the Leonis Chapter. Map drawn by my lovely Dad (one of three featured in the novel)! Coming in December 2026 - The Immortality Paradox!

Ink-drawn map of a mountainous landscape, with two seas to the north and south. Rivers wind from the mountain ranges and a large city is nestled at the centre at the intersection of several valleys. In addition, a large forest, south of the mountains sits near the southern sea border. To the west, a vast flatland stretches out between mountains and a series of straight canals.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Part six of the poem. The translation reads: "An image of shadow, a burden of consecrating demise. Insist on counteracting greed." The Immortality Paradox, coming December 2026! Image copyright: Lucas Pezeta. #Booksky #Debutnovel #Scifi #Poetry

A nightclub, filled with orange and green strobe lighting. People are dancing with their hands in the air, while someone wrapped in a costume of LED strips and a futuristic helmet of green light is at the centre of it all. In the top right corner, a quotation reads: "Llith cysgod, llwyth cysegru tranc. Mynnu gwrthgyferbynnu gwanc." Written in the language of Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Immortality Paradox - New Sci-fi coming December 2026! Preorders in November at Barnard Publishing! #DebutNovel #BookSky #Scifi

Book front cover. In a midnight-blue colour, the cover is surrounded by dark, twisting roots like tree branches that coil around an open tunnel. At the centre, a strange slender silhouette, with two horns, stands. Behind them, the tunnel is complete, deep darkness. "The Immortality Paradox" and "T.L. Firth" are written in the centre.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Part Five of the poem and another puzzle piece solved. "From common ashes rises a brazen air; a tumult spurred from self-infliction." Image copyright: Tahla Riaz. The Immortality Paradox - coming December 2026! #Booksky #Debutnovel #Scifi #Poetry

Two glass-encased towers still under construction rise up from a brown and black desert. Two golden, horizontal cranes stick out above and the internal skeleton of the buildings are visible to the elements. More buildings are seen in the distant background, sand-coloured and white. Tiny people can be seen walking across the desert in the foreground, and the sky above is a smoggy orange and white.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The fourth piece of the ancient poem is unveiled: "Hope's end; the toil of the mire. The swift hatred of a coalition." The Immortality Paradox arrives December 2026! Image copyright: Lesli Whitecotton. #booksky #indieauthor #scifi #debutnovel

A mist shrouding a mountain valley, where the shadow of the mountain with its veins of snow and rock is barely visible through the snowfall. In the foreground, a collection of snow-peppered trees reside, with only parts of their greenery on show. A the bottom of the picture, a quotation reads: "Pen gobaith; llafurwaith y llaid. Atgasedd cyflym y clymblaid." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The third piece of the ancient poem. "The purpose of Hafan; guiding progress. A measured corruption from the blessed." The Immortality Paradox - coming December 2026! Image copyright: Dirk Schuneman. #Booksky #Scfi #Poetry #DebutNovel

A black and white image of ancient tree roots, protruding from the ground. They appear old and cracked, and the earth around them is worn and dry. In the bottom right corner, a quotation reads "Perwyl Hafan; tafol trywydd. Llygrediad pwyllog o'r dedwydd." Written in Calonlais.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

No sci-fi/fantasy novel is complete without maps! Grateful to my Dad for using his architectural expertise in drawing out three maps for my new novel, including E'blanche. This is an early draft - more to come soon! The Immortality Paradox - Coming December 2026! #DebutNovel #BookSky #FantasyMaps

An ink drawing of a mountainous landscape with a sea border to the north, and several rivers running through a city, town and past a forest. The drawing is an earlier sketch, evident with the pencil-drawn names and incomplete edges.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The second piece of the puzzle: "Five offerings through the gate beyond; the sorrowful vengeance against treachery." Image copyright: Vladimir Gladkov. The Immortality Paradox - coming December 2026! #WritingCommunity #Scifi #DebutNovel #BookSky

A dark collection of clouds surrounding a pinprick of golden light which tries to break through. Near the top right corner, a quote reads: "Pump ebyrth trwy byrth tra chrebwyll; Dial y digalon hydwyll." Written in Calonlais, the language of the Calan race.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

An ancient poem, composed by an ancient race. Linguist, Ritu Kartal, attempts to decipher its meaning. "A solitary grave, benefit of the wicked; an altar of historical inhumanity." Written in the language of the Calan. Image copyright: Siarhei Nester #BookSky #Debutnovel #WritingCommunity #Scifi

A floor of golden, sandy rock, with a patch of light to the left and the rest in shadow or darkness. A coarse piece of rock protrudes from the centre. In the top right corner, a quote reads "Bedd arunig, budd yr anfad; allor annynoldeb anad."

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The Immortality Paradox Synopsis Coming December 2026 from Barnard Publishing! #BookSky #Debutnovel #Scifi #Fantasy

Back cover of a novel. The lower three-quarters is made of midnight-blue roots arranged in a convoluted tangle with objects nestled and trapped within their confines. At the centre a dark tunnel opens up. Writing inside reads: "Deception. Fear. Chaos. Thousands of years after twenty-four Chapters of Humanity scattered across the galaxy. On one fateful day, millions vanish. The only link; a mysterious object located at the edge of known civilisation. The United Systems Senate turns to the Calan, an immortal race that were once stewards of all human colonies. But not everyone wants the Calan involved. Some people prefer to play gods themselves... First Chronicle of the Cosmogenesis Hexad."

Above the writing, the surface of the roots shows a beautiful sky of orange and burning pink, with a silvery spaceship landed and a couple of figures standing nearby.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

COVER DESIGN REVEAL The Immortality Paradox is coming December the 1st. Preorders in November! Cover design by @rein-lee.bsky.social and published by Barnard Publishing -> www.barnardpublishing.co.uk?v=7885444af42e #scifi #debutnovel #bookcover

Book cover design with a predominantly midnight-blue vibe. To the right, a rectangle of convoluted, dark roots wraps around a deep tunnel with an eerie light permeating the entrance. A lone figure - a shadow with horns - stands at the centre of the tunnel. In the middle, a stronger set of roots seems to hold everything together. To the left, another tunnel wreathed in roots opens up, but is populated by small spider-like creatures. Above, on the surface, a spaceship is parked with two figures standing outside. Behind them, a sky of pink and orange clouds.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Announcement for my debut novel coming tomorrow - here's a sneak peak of the cover! #DebutNovel #BookSky #Scifi Thank you to @rein-lee.bsky.social for helping bring this universe to life and for their phenomenal talent!

Artwork of midnight-blue roots reach down towards a larger, thicker root. In the right hand corner, a spider-like creature with silver legs and a bright, crystal-like body sits. The background is a deep, dark navy.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Writing the final draft of my debut novel coming this winter! #DebutAuthor #Scifi #Booksky

Text typed on a white page background, centred. The text reads: "Cosmogenesis Hexad, (The First Chronicle), The Immortality Paradox, T. L. Firth, Manuscript, Final Draft.

In the top right corner there is also the words "Copyright, T. L. Firth"

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The wonderful indie publisher Barnard Publishing have a new book out today: A Year Without a Summer by Lesley Bungay. Check them out here: www.barnardpublishing.co.uk?srsltid=AfmB... #IndiePublisher #PublicationDay #BarnardPublishing

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Writing a novel has turned into devising an entire universe. It’s fun…up until I forget the name of a fashion tycoon who once started an interplanetary war and I’ve forgotten where I wrote it 😅! Debut novel — The Immortality Paradox — coming December 2026…

Screenshot from app Obsidian depicting a web of inter-connected pages as dots on a mind map. One dot at the centre is highlighted as “Chapters of Humanity”, with a number of connected dots turned bold.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! I love keeping track of all the characters, locations and species in my universe that I use Obsidian to compile everything in one place. Looking forward to releasing The Immortality Paradox into the world thi year! #Debutauthor #Booksky #Debutnovel

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

10. Anfarwol (2025) by Peredur Glyn Worthy winner of the Daniel Owen Memorial Award at the Eisteddfod, for Welsh readers, this is a gem waiting to be read - I guarantee you will not be disappointed by this sweeping, glorious, unmitigated fantasy historical. My favourite this year without a doubt.

A black and white novel cover, depicting an ink drawing of a man dressed in 18th century clothing, with an overcoat, a bicorne hat and a belt. Obscuring his eyes are two red crosses. A black speech bubble is emerging from his head and to the right.

Within the speech bubble is written "Anfarwol neu Diflaniad Theophilus Cibber" with the author's name underneath "Peredur Glyn". On the left hand side is a black background badge stating "Enillydd Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen 2025" (Translation: The Daniel Owen Memorial Award Winner)

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

9. Babel (2022) by R. F. Kuang Provocative, emotional and clever historical fantasy which had me feeling all kinds of emotions throughout the read. Definitely a writer I'll be returning to soon!

Novel cover, with a grainy, pencil-like background drawing of an old-fashioned, Victorian era skyline of Oxford. Four towers are visible, with one on the left prominent compared to the rest. There are also birds in the sky.

The book title "Babel" is written veritcally down the centre with each letter printed inside square-shaped ink drawings. On the left side is written the author's name (again vertically), "R. F. Kuang". On the right side a golden-trimmed badge reading "Book of the Year". Underneath this is a review, "Ambitious, sweeping, epic - Evening Standard".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

8. Mindf*ck (2019) by Christopher Wylie Mind-blowing, eye-opening and utterly frustrating - you will feel understandably hopeless reading this disaster-waiting-to-happen account, but it explains a lot about the current political climate.

A stark, plain and lime-green book cover, with a giant, inky and computer script-like "X" displayed across the centre. At the top reads "Mindf*ck. They steal your data. They hack your brain. They rule the world"

Underneath the "X", there is a quote reading "Clover, funny, bitchy, profound - Carole Cadwalladr, Observer" and the author's name, "Christopher Wylie".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

7. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder (2023) by David Grann One of the wildest true stories I've ever read and a visceral snapshot of a period of history of which I know very little. Brilliantly orchestrated on paper.

The book cover is a painted depiction of a warship, HMS Wager, being chucked around on stormy seas, while white water licks up portside. The sky in the background is a gloomy grey cloud, with dark, ominous patches. The sea below is choppy and undulating.

At the top of the cover it states, "The International Number One Bestseller, David Grann" and a smaller quote underneath reads "The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail...one of the finest non-fiction books I've ever read - Guardian".

Across the bottom of the cover, in an old-fashioned script font reads "The Wager, A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

6. The Stone Sky (2017) by N. K. Jemisin Anyone who loves science-fiction should read this incredible trilogy (The Broken Earth). I'm ashamed it took me this long to read the finale, but it was worth it. Deserves every award it got!

Book cover is an aquamarine colour, with etched stone archway, carved into filigree depictions at the top of the cover. A golden badge on the left-hand side states "WINNER of the HUGO and NEBULA AWARDS".

Towards the middle part of the cover is the same aquamarine colour, but flushed on a crumbling wall, with pieces of old paint flaking away. Overlayed on top is the writing "Extraordinary - New York Times on the Fifth Season"

At the bottom of the cover is the title "The Stone Sky", author name "N. K. Jemisin" and "The New York Time Bestseller".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Thank you to my publisher, Barnard Publishing, for sending me an early Christmas present. A proof copy of my novel coming out next year! Currently surreal, but gradually feeling real. #DebutNovel #NewAuthor #BookSky

Book cover depicting space filled with red and purple radiation. Science-fiction fonted writing across the cover reads "Humanity Has Spread Across Galaxies..."

Like the first picture, the back cover of the book has the same purplish radiation-filled space with more science-fiction fonted writing, stating "...And We Aren't Alone."

Inside the book on white paper is written in centred writing, "Calan Volume I, The Immortality Paradox, T. L. Firth, Manuscript: Third Draft". In the top left corner is written in ink, "Happy Nadolig!! Becca x"

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

5. The Square of Sevens (2023) by Laura Shepherd-Robinson I'm not a regular historical fiction reader, but this is beautifully-written and has a supremely enticing mystery. The first-person narrative works a formidable magic too.

The novel cover is outlined by a wooden boundary, with carved, flowery inlay. Like a wooden box, the main cover is separated into four segments. A large segment at the top has a crimson, red cloth, with a brass heart and key either side.

The bottom three segments are a twirling fossil, two cards placed perpendicular (one spade and one diamond), and the final one is a greenish-blue egg, mottled with black marks.

Writing at the top includes the author's name "Laura Shepherd-Robinson", and then underneath "The Square of Sevens".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

4. Gideon the Ninth (2019) by Tamsyn Muir Wildly original, charming and laugh-out-loud on every page. I dare you not to enjoy this one.

An aritistic book cover with a skull-faced, red-haired, slender woman, stepping towards the reader in a sleaveless, black cloak and belt and wearing a glove on her left arm and wielding a saber in her right. Around her on a background of stars are skeletons in varying states of disrepair surrounded by a white smog

At the top of the page is the author's name, "Tamsyn Muir", and towards the bottom in skeletol writing is "Gideon The Ninth". A quote is written at the bottom: "Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space! Decadent enablers vie to serve the deathless Emperor! Skeletons!" - Charles Stross

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

3. The Tainted Cup (2024) by Robert Jackson Bennett An original murder mystery unfolding in a fantasy world of epic proportions, and two main characters will steal your heart.

A book cover depicting a claustraphobic area of vegetation, with purple and violet-tinged trees and branches on the left, and cyan-coloured mushrooms and vines on the right and underneath. At the centre, is a circle of pinky-red liquid set behind the title "The Tainted Cup".

In written arcs within the pool of red liquid is written the following three sentences: "A Peculiar Crime. A Brilliant Investigator. A Mystery of Epic Proportions"

There are two reviews centred below this, "A masterstroke - Max Gladstone" and "A riveting murder mystery - Fonda Lee". The author's name is written right at the bottom "Robert Jackson Bennett".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

2. Moon Over Soho (2011) by Ben Aaronovitch Quickly falling in love with this series, and will continue reading them in the new year! Witty, fast-paced and heartfelt.

Book cover depicting the writing "A Bestselling Rivers of London Novel" above the author's name "Ben Aaronovitch", which is subsequently above the novel title "Moon Over Soho", written in the form of a river, with some letters interconnecting. All of this is written on a creamy white background.

Towards the bottom right of the cover is a ink-drawn map of part of London, which is made up of caricature like drawings of famous landmarks as well as their names, all surrounding a part of the River Thames, which is coloured red.

One blotchy part of the river explodes into a large "Blood-like" part of the ink-drawing, where writing appears in the centre, reading "Witty, well plotted, vividly written and addictively readable - The Times on Rivers of London".

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

FAVOURITE READS OF 2025 A list of ten novels I've read this year that have made a mark on my soul. In no particular order. 1. The Priory of the Orange Tree (2019) by Samantha Shannon Sweeping, epic fantasy with vivid characters!

Artistic novel cover, with a cracked, dilapidated stone tower, with a coppery-orange roof and pointed spire on the left of the cover. The tower is being wrapped by a teal dragon's long tail, which also has silvery whisps of fins and sharp spikes across its head.

At the bottom of the cover is a view of a red-tiled town of houses and silhouetted spires in the distance. The name "Samantha Shannon" is written across them in white.

On the right side of the cover, set against a vivid gold background with faint visions of fire, is the title "The Priory of the Orange Tree", and above that statements, "The International Bestseller" along with reviews "Epic - Guardian" and "Majestic - Daily Mail"

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Gosh, @benaaronovitch.bsky.social 's Rivers of London series is a sheer delight! This is a series I will eagerly be lapping up for the next year or so. Moon Over Soho surpasses the first in the series with concerning capers and crazier creatures. I'm in awe!

Book cover stating "A Bestselling Rivers of London Novel" at the top, with "Ben Aaronovitch" underneath, and "Moon Over Soho" written in a blue "river-like" font in the centre.

The cover is set against a creamy-white background, with a detailed ink drawing of a London map comprised of famous locations around the capital city. Part of the map has been obscured by a glob of red blood-like ink, which is flowing and morphing into the River Thames.

Other, small and relevant ink drawings are scattered around the cover, including a man's severed head, a cake on a plate, a trumpet and saxaphone, and a St John's ambulance.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Finally completed the Broken Earth trilogy - there's so much to love about it! The imagination and raw emotion in these novels are what make them so worthy of those Hugo Awards. And the last but one line of The Stone Sky hit me like orogeny.

Three books covers side by side. From left to right, there is "The Fifth Season" with a aquamarine stone-coloured cover; "The Obelisk Gate", centred with a stone-carved floral pattern in a dark blood-red; and "The Stone Sky", similarly aquamarine, but with a stronger green.

All novels are written by N. K. Jemisin.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

So lucky to have a wonderful boyfriend who makes books out of my novel drafts ❤️. @steffj0n35.bsky.social Extra special, as this will be my novel debut - The Immortality Paradox - coming in a year's time!

Picture taken at an angle of a book with the title "The Immortality Paradox" and "T.L. Firth" written in white on the front cover and spine.

The spine is a dark blue background, while the front cover is a colourful remnant of a past supernova, that has left the imprint of dispersed gas in a nebula like shape, with distant, bright stars poking through. This section is also dark blue with an arc of lighter blue to the top left. At the top of the front cover is a cloud of red and orange matter emerging from all sides above the title.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Can't go wrong with Doctor Who alumni; Ben Aaronovitch has crafted an extremely energetic and funny world set in the heart and soul of London. Another novel series I'll be desperate to continue when finances allow!

Cover of novel "Rivers of London" by Ben Aaronovitch.

It's set on a cream-coloured background with author and title above an inked, cartoonish map of a section of London. The map is riddled with caricatures, but a part is highlighted in blood red, including Covent Garden and the River Thames.

Three ink drawings are separated above, including a wizard's hat, police constable's hat and a gravestone with a spade leaning against it.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

I finally completed Earthsea, from one of my favourite authors, Ursula K. Le Guin. Surprised myself that I've not read this, considering how much I adored The Left Hand of Darkness, but it is truly epic, emotional and prescient.

Cover of a novel. It's a bright, teal colour with a compass symbol wrapped around the title "Earthea" which is underlined by a magic staff, "The First Four Books" underneath and "Ursula K. Le Guin" written in the shape of a smile.

Above the compass is a silhouetted drawing of a young boy, with foliage, mountains, a craggy sea and a night sky full of stars above it all.

Below the compass, is the silhouette of a woman flanked by two dragons facing inward.

There are two quoted opinions of the novel; one at the top reading: "One of the major works of fantasy in this century" (by Observer); and one at the bottom reading: "Majestic" (by Telegraph).

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Andor - one of those zeitgeist shows that's also unafraid to point out the darkness in a revolution, and the morality of every action. It's just so good, and light years ahead of any politically-themed series!

Well-dressed and hair-styled man gazing to the side with a smirk. In the background are a row of windows with sunlight streaming through.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Severance is one of those lightining-in-a-bottle shows that comes around rarely with breathtaking imagination! The nightmare of human resources played as an unnerving thriller!

Mark S in a suit, walking towards the camera down a minimalistic, white corridor carrying bright blue balloons. The corridor is brighly lit with blinding white light.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

I finally got around to watching Lost Boys and Fairies! Despite thousands of tears shed, this was a cathartic watch for me as a bisexual Welshman who wants to adopt in the future. Please consider watching this beautiful slice of raw drama. But don't forget the tissues!

Two men, one blonde, the other brunette, sat side-by-side in Superman t-shirts and wearing lanyards with name tags. The man on the right is leaning his head on the other's shoulder. They are sitting outside, in front of building windows, with children's graffiti underneath.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

TOP 20 TV SERIES 2024 1. Shōgun (FX) The crowning glory of 2024, Shōgun is head and shoulders above the rest, bringing authenticity to Human history that tears down the borders between cultures. Sometimes quiet and philosophical, others visceral and shocking, this has redefined the drama genere!

Lord Toranaga dressed in full battle armour and wielding katana, standing next to two stanchions in flames. Banners and tents are sprawled behind him, and a cliffside with trees at its top in the background.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

TOP 20 TV SERIES 2024 2. House of the Dragon (HBO) If drama had a definition, House of the Dragon would be the finest exemplification. A cast completely in their element, a world on grand scale, and political subterfuge at every turn; this is a carefully cultivated series equal to its predecessor

Rhaenyra stands in a beautiful, embroidered purple and red cloak, her face lightly dusted with soot. Two vast dragons, one gold, the other deep red, are crouched behind her roaring in harmony on a craggy mountainside.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

TOP 20 TV SERIES 2024 3. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon Prime) An epic showcase of Tolkien's world that does not shy away from in-depth history while maintaining the thrill of battle and the beauty of Middle-Earth. This is escapist fantasy at its best!

Sauron stands in the middle of a stone walkway in a burning Eregion. He is in an Elvish form with a gold-guilded dark cloak. In the background is a stone-worked decorative fountain, while the rest of the architecture is in flames or smoke.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

TOP 20 TV SERIES 2024 4. The Penguin (HBO) A new, gritty villain story that is unafraid to portray a truly evil character and maintain his unashamed depravityoZ. The combo of Farrell and Milioti is so genuinely powerful, it makes the expanded Batman world around them life-like and visceral.

Oz Cobb, dressed in a long, leather coat, standing amongst a junkyard in the sunlight. In the background, a train passes on an overpass.

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Tom Firth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @tlfirth.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

TOP 20 TV SERIES 2024 5. Dune: Prophecy (HBO) Politics and science-fiction blend like Shai-Hulud and sand in this sumptumous, epic drama. Across the board, performances are top tier, and the sets are remarkably immersive, all buoyed by a thrilling story of revenge and manipulation.

Princess Inez and Pruwet holding hands near a plinth and adjacent to the Corrino throne. They are the top of a flight of steps covered in red petals. Large, grey statues rise either side of their cerermony. Princess Inez is wearing a vivid, red dress, while Pruwet is in a plain, white uniform with a cloak.

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