⭐ 3.25/5 ⭐ 

Audiobook narrated by Cassandra Morris.

A young girl called Fern starts the summer holidays helping with her family's whale watching business. She enters a photography competition with her rival and neighbour Jasper.

- The author captures very well the awkwardness and changing relationships of preteen life. I felt for Fern as she becomes more aware that she and those around her are not little kids anymore and with that there are changes to her friendship dynamic.

- For a book that has whales in the title, the whales do not feature heavily. They are in the background for the most part.

- I realise I am not the intended audience for this book. However, I found the plot frustrating and that it did really go anywhere. I also found Fern quite whingey, some of which I understood, and it became quite grating after a while.

A simple read that I would think would be enjoyed by actual preteens who might empathise more.

⭐ 4/5 ⭐ 

A plain yet intriguing restaurant hides in Kyoto. Inside Nagare and Koishi Kamogawa serve a variety of special foods. Their goal is to help people track down specific dishes and to recreate them for their clients.

- The structure of the book is very formulaic. Each chapter focuses on a different meal and customer. The customer arrives, samples the restaurants set menu, speaks to Koishi about the dish they're trying to find and then returns at a later date to see the results. I liked the predictable way it was formatted and how it provided structure to an otherwise ephemeral concept.

- The food is the star of this book and reminds me heavily of the manner in which Studio Ghibli presents food. Heavily and deliciously described, I felt nostalgic for foods I'd never heard of before and which I will never be able to try (allergies). I have often asked people in real life to describe how something I can't have tastes and they have almost always drawn a blank but this book gave me such a vivid feel for these foods.

- I enjoyed the banter and loving relationship the two Kamogawa's shared and kinda wish this was addressed more. I hope in the sequels we see more of the titular father-daughter duo.

If you like cosy books, with delicious food and low stakes/high reward mysteries, I highly recommend this book.

4.25/5

The fourth installment and this time we follow Isabella to the desert where she becomes involved in a dragon breeding program.

- This book, whilst very enjoyable, felt a bit more choppy than previous books. We go from the dragon enclosures to full desert to mountains to Arabian/Egyptian inspired towns. It's all interesting but not always smooth.

- As someone who enjoys ancient Egypt and its mythology, I loved how this book leaned into this world's equivalent of the Draconians. I won't ruin things but I enjoyed the sections that discussed this ancient race.

- We get to see Isabella develop more romance in this book and it's so sweet and nerdy. The courting was exactly as you'd expect and I loved it.

Mysterious, adventurous and sets up well for the final book (which I have already reviewed previously). This series is one of my favourites and I would recommend it to anyone who like Victorian age fantasy with a focus on period appropriate science.

4.5/5

Sam has moved to Oregon following a traumatic incident. They learn that a boy died in their house in what is reported to be an accident but there are murmurings that it was infact murder. Sam and their new friends investigate whilst Sam has to adjust to their new school and come to terms with their past.

- Non-binary representation is lacking and I very much enjoyed Sam's character. Their intersectionality as also autistic andhaving gone through the care system really was good too and added some nuance. MacGregor has done an excellent job of creating a realistic person and not a stereotype.

- Part of the book focusses on Sam's special interest of collecting true stories of kids who have died before their nineteenth birthday. This is probably the only part I wish was expanded as I wish we could have had more insight into the other people in Sam's collection.

- I loved the small town spooky vibes of this book but also the queer acceptance and joy that this book celebrates. It's a unique cocktail but very immersive and enjoyable.

If you are looking for a YA book with non-binary and/or autistic representation and spooky murder vibes, I highly recommend this book.

4.75/5

Audiobook narrated by Kate Reading.

The third installation in the Memoirs of Lady Trent series and Isabella takes an around the world voyage in pursuit of dragons and finds much more on the way.

- I loved how this book differed from the first two in that it offered so many changes of scenery and did them all justice. It was like reading an old Victorian adventure novel with vibrant cities, wild oceans and exotic islands. Each location was well thought out and full of character.

- All the characters have grown over the course of the series but in this one I really appreciated getting to know Jake, Isabella's son, and appreciate both how like his parents he is and how different. He added a youthful glee to the book.

- The last third of the book was amazing and I love how it both crammed in so much culture and different perspective and was also action packed with lots of revelations.

Excellent and a credit to the series. Onto In the Labyrinth of Drakes!

⭐ 3.5/5 ⭐ 

* I was provided with a free ebook copy in exchange for a fair review *

In the near future, climate change had wreaked havoc on the world's food supply. When the world's major food supplier is destroyed in a terrorist attack, things become increasingly desperate.

- The reader follows several separate points of view through the narrative and this evolves and changes with the plot. I enjoyed the change between characters though sometimes it felt a little disjointed.

- The flow of the book was a bit stop and start. Sometimes the plot would move at a glacial pace and at others would race forward. Sometimes I felt this were over explained or irrelevant and then for somethig else to be glossed over. The author does take time to build up the world and setting and this is mostly done well.

- I felt the ending was a little twee. I like a happy ending but everything fit together too neatly. There could have been more satisfying resolution to some of the plot points.

An interesting concept and The Starving Planet has quite a few thinking points for the reader. I would recommend for those who like realistic near future fiction with political manoeuvring.

⭐ 5/5 ⭐ 

Audiobook narrated by Kate Reading.

Onto book two, and this is one of my favourites in the series. It's fast paced and adventurous. Isabella and her companions travel to Eriga to study the local dragons and end up in a tropical swamp. They somehow become embroiled in local warfare and international relations. 

- I adore Isabella's growth during this book. She becomes more mature and her experiences force her to do some introspection. Particularly, I empathise with her experiences of postnatal depression and grief.

- The settings in the book are so vibrant and immersive. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the swamp and its ecosystems. Also the Cataract would described in the most gorgeous way and I'm sad I cannot visit that place.

- The cultures in this books are really well done and I appreciate how Brennan has described  each and their conventions and ways. It brought the people to life.

An excellent sequel that is thoroughly immersive and enjoyable whilst also setting up well for the rest of the series.

⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐ 

Audiobook narrated by Kate Reading.

This series has a place in my heart and it's been a few years since I read it so decided to revisit. We follow Isabella, a young upper class women in an analogue of Victorian England as she starts her adventurous career studying dragons. The books are told as a set of her memoirs.

- This book is a slow start as Isabella's childhood is described. When I read this the first time I remember it took me a while to get through but on reread I very much enjoyed it and the set up for what occurs later in the book and series.

- The main adventure of the book takes place in rural Vystrana (Russia/Eastern European inspired region) where Isabella joins a party research Rock Wyrms. I love how Brennan brought the region to life and dropped in details that added to the ambience.

- Isabella is both amazing and fun but also frustrating and naïve. I love her character but did occasionally wish to hit her over the head to beat some sense into her. Kate Reading gave her so much personality and vibrance and made the listening experience excellent.

A historical sci-fantasy that captured my heart again. Would recommend to those who enjoy historical fantasy, a charismatic female protagonist and speculative science of mythological creatures.

4.25/5

Audiobook narrated by the author.

A comprehensive summary and discussion on the many facets of bisexuality. Shaw guides the reader through the history and definition of the orientation, discusses the current challenges faced by bi- and multi-sexual people and the various intersectional points.

- This book appears very thorough as a review of bisexual history and talking points. It does not particularly cover any new ground but it does ask questions about the future based on past and present research and experience.

- As a bisexual person, it is both very obvious and also wonderful that this book was written by another bisexual. I felt so affirmed that someone put into coherent words the feelings I have about my sexuality.

- Despite the detail included in the book, at no point did it feel like an academic textbook. Yes, studies are mentioned but they are explained and I think someone with very little grasp of scientific research would be able to enjoy the book just fine.

A really affirming and interesting book. I would recommend to those who enjoy nonfiction queer books and wish to expand their knowledge of multisexuality.

⭐ 3.25/5 ⭐

Brian Cox leads us on a tour of scientific questions: Why are snowflakes six pointed? Why is the sky blue? What causes rainbows? Where does life come from? He attempts to answer these and more in a format easily understood by the lay person with a secondary school education.

- This book was certainly interesting and simultaneously easily digestible but detailed. My experience found that audio format made it harder to stay on track when equations were reeled off and maybe a physical or digital copy of the book would be better understood in these chapters.

- The book is not written for scientists but for the average member of the public would be educational and enjoyable to read. Most of the information was not new to me as a bit of a science nerd but I did learn a few things. As a result of this book, my internal response to someone asking how I am on a low mental health day is now "I'm here and contributing to the heat death of the universe."

- The book it well read, clear and the narrator helps to keep the reader engaged. Honestly though, I'd probably have preferred Dr Cox to narrate it himself to add to the experience.

An interesting little science book, perfect for those with a starting interest in how the universe works.