What I read in October 2026
October was certainly one of the more eventful months I’ve had recently! I read 13 books (some were really short, but then again, others were really long/took longer than expected to read), and saw five excellent Colchester Fringe shows (with my sixth – and final – one this afternoon). I also put a short story, Unfamiliar Ground online.
We also adopted a kitten! His name is Domino and he is (currently…) tiny.
While I’ll always have a Toby-shaped hole in my heart, my overall mood is so much for better having a floofy little guy on hand again.
The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald, by A.J. West - 5*
Smell Complaint, by Mara Reboi - 4*
An Expert Witness, by Sue Black - 4*
The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm, by R.W.R. McDonald - 4*
Wolf Worm, by T. Kingfisher - 4.5*
Decoy, by Joanna Steenen (Hannah Steenbock) - 4*
A Tehran So Quiet and Other Stories, by Mehdi M. Kashani - 4*
As You Wake, Break the Shell, by Becky Chambers - 5*
Resurrection, by Owen G. Richards - 4*
Servants to the King, by Marion Scott (Nina Allen) - 4.5*
The Last Philosopher Part 1 and 2, by Nick East - 3.5*
Exit Party, by Emily St John Mandel - 4*
Borrowed Time, by Stephen Anthony Brotherton - 4*
Looking ahead…
I said I’d read Fever Dreams, edited by Mark Morris, last month, and to be fair, I did manage to fit about 40% of it into October!
I adore Natasha Pulley, and I received her new book, The Salt King, for my birthday last month. I can’t wait to read it.
I haven’t read any TJ Klune in a bit because none of his books have been on special offer but plan to rectify that with the excellent-looking Murmuration.
This month’s stop on my T. Kingfisher odyssey is Clockwork Boys.