Barb's reads for 2026

January
1. Smoke Bitten – Mercy Thompson book 12 by Patricia Briggs. I love this series, and because I was waiting on the next book from T.A. White to proofread, I needed a smallish book. Mercy and Adam were the perfect solution. I actually started this at the end of December but didn't finish it till the new year so I'm chalking it uo to this year's tally.
2. Echoes of Insurrection – Firebird Chronicles book 6 by T.A. White. Though I was proofing this book before publication I figure I can count it as one of my reads as I won't read it again probably until the next book is due out. I loved it! It's one of my favourite in this series. I know all her fans are going to love it too!
3. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry. I was always going to re-read this book this year, but I didn't intend to do that so early in the year. But once I thought about it, I NEEDED to read it again. It's such a good book - I loved it this time as well. Can't wait for book two - I think it's due out in May.
4. Murder of Crows – Book two of The Others by Anne Bishop. It's been a long time since I read this series - but I did read book one in the last couple of years. It's such a good series – quite different to anything else I've ever read.

January cont
5. The Raven Scholar – Book one of The Eternal Path trilogy by Antonia Hodgson. I loved this book - so many twists to the tale, and great world building. I'm so glad I read it in paperback as I found myself often flipping back to the map at the front of the book to get my bearings. It started with a tragic betrayal, little did I know that wasn't even the first, or the biggest. I can't honestly say I loved the main characters – but it didn't detract from my love of the story as a whole. My one issue – if you can call it that – was that it read like a YA fantasy – which I'm not against, but these characters were supposed to be adults in their 20s and 30s, yet they all acted like teenagers. I chose to ignore their supposed ages and in my head treated them as much younger and that way I could enjoy the story. Very imaginative. I haven't read anything like this in a very long time.

Still in January - just
6. Silver Elite by Dani Francis. I had heard mixed reviews about this book but I'm glad I decided to give it a go as I really enjoyed it. I quite like these stories where the Bad Guys are not all bad, and the Good Guys are not all good. It's not so easy to be so black and white about groups of people based on random stuff like having certain abilities – there are good and bad people in all populations. I'm looking forward to book two.
7. Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider. I loved this book! I knew to expect a plot twist, but even knowing there was one I didn't pick it. The sequel is due out in May (along with many other sequels – May is going to be a big month!) and I can't wait. I am hoping with everything I have for a HEA for Brynn/Jovie and Acker. This was much better than I expected it to be.
8. An Uneasy Peace – Fractured Conclave book 5 by Vanessa Nelson. I did enjoy this book, but not as much as I've come to expect from Vanessa Nelson's books. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more had I re-read the rest of the series beforehand. Either way, it was good, and tied up some loose ends from earlier books which was unexpected. I think one of the things that didn't hit quite right about this book was Hallie always being tired or slow, when she;s used to running all over Lowtown after criminals. It just seemed out of character to me. I'm still looking forward to the last book, that I think is also due out in May.

February
9. Brimstone by Callie Hart. This is book two in the Fae and Alchemy series, and I think I loved this more than Quicksilver. The twist at the end raises some serious questions, but I really loved the character development. I need to stop reading other people's opinions on insta, because i read a lot of negative comments about this book, and yet I loved it. To be fair, I should have clicked that if those people who loved ACOTAR hated this, then I would likely love it, because I hated ACOTAR. The last book in this trilogy is due out in November – I'm looking forward to it!
10. When the Moon Hatched – Book one of The Moonfall series by Sarah A. Parker. I LOVED this book! I saw a comment on instagram that said they didn't know why this book didn't get a similar fan fare to Fourth Wing, and I absolutely agree. It was so good. I loved the main characters, and a few of the side characters. I cannot wait for the second (and hopefully final) book to come out in May. Interestingly, the description on the back cover was not overly inspiring, and I may not have read it at all if it weren't for that comment on instagram.
11. Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole. This book started out with such promise then just seemed to lose its way. Diem was frustrating to me as she did stupid things and also seemed to flip flop all over the place in her convictions. I also didn't like Henri at all. I kind of want to read the next book just because of the mystery of her mother - but I'm in no great hurry to do that. We'll see if I ever read the rest of the series.
12. Throne of Glass – Book one by Sarah J Maas. I resisted reading this for a long time because I really didn't like ACOTAR. But, I quite enjoyed it. I have to keep reminding myself that the main characters are very young - but on t he whole, it's a good story. I probably will read more in this series because I'd like to see all of Celaena's secrets revealed - to herself as much as to us.
13. A Sorceress of his Own – The Gifted Ones Book one by Dianne Duvall. I've read a few of Dianne Duvall's books and generally I've enjoyed them. This was good – but it was a bit trying at times. There were more inconsistencies in the timeline and general story then I ever remember there being in any of the others I've read.

March
14. Radiance book one of the Wraith Kings by Grace Draven. This is one of my favourite books ever – and when I need a break from a heavy-going book (like Alchemised) I re-read it. I love both Ildiko and Brishen – they are great characters. Always a breath of fresh air.
15. Alchemised by SenLinYu. I'm not even sure what to say about this book. I nearly gave up in Part One because it was so dark and I didn't think I could handle any more brutality. Then Part two was somehow worse when you realised that all the torture and containment techniques used on Helena, had been devised by her to aid the Resistance. And that she and Kaine had loved each other, but he was forced to be her jailer and torture her. It was just so tragic. And then the ending where their daughter says her mother should not be reduced to a foot note – in a book that said she was an inactive member of the Resistance, when she gave, and endured as much – if not more – than many of the warriors. And they never knew what she did for them. So tragic. And that she had been left permanently weakened, and that Kaine had sought out and wanted what was done to him. It couldn't be further from the truth. I think I will be haunted by this book for a while to come – but I don't think I will ever be able to re-read it. I had to take a break for my heart and my sanity reading this – hence why I read Radiance. After finishing this book I found a review by Kelsey Hall that sums it up better than I ever could:

"One of Alchemised’s most powerful themes is its unflinching portrayal of systemic oppression against women. The story doesn’t shy away from showing how the work of women is often dismissed, their voices silenced and their bodies controlled.
Helena’s journey is devastating proof: sterilized as a teenager, sold to the enemy for insider information, taken advantage of by her superiors, and in the end, her efforts during the war are erased from history with nothing more than a mocking footnote.
“She was a non-active member of the Order of the Eternal Flame, and she did not fight.” Even after everything she sacrificed, to see her contributions reduced and written off as insignificant is one of the most devastatingly gut-wrenching and, unfortunately, achingly familiar parts of this book."

16. Pathfinder's Way Book one of The Broken Lands by T.A. White. I re-read this book quite often – maybe every year. It's an old favourite that I fall back on when I need a comfort read. as always, I loved it.

April
17. Mist's Edge Book two of the Broken Lands by T.A. White. I wasn't planning to re-read the whole story, but once I'd read Pathfinder's way, I had to carry on. It's the first series of Tobey's that I discovered – and I still love it.
18. Wayfarer's Keep Book three of the Broken Lands by T.A. White. This is my least favourite book of this series, but I have to admit every time I re-read it, I understand Shea's decision to go into the Bad Lands after Griffin when Fallon lay fighting for survival. Now I kind of like it. Go figure.
19. This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. I have loved most of the books this couple have written – most notably the Kate Daniels series – but this was probably my favourite ever first book in a series by them. Usually, I find the world building is the basis of a first book – and while there was plenty of that in this book, I fell in love with the whole cast of main characters. That is rare for me. A great book! I listened to parts of it because I was sick and it hurt my eyes to read, but I couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved it.
20. Rites of the Starling – Shield of Sparrows book two by Devney Perry. I tried to make this book last as long as I could, but it was 'un-put-downable'! What a book. I couldn't have predicted where the story would go after Shield of Sparrows, but I was not disappointed. I was about half way through when I realised Caspia and Andreas were actually Odessa's parents, and that she wasn't going to run into them on the trek from Turah. I liked Andreas until then – I find it difficult to reconcile the man who loved her mother to distraction, to the man who sidelined Odessa and showed her no love at all. I am holding out hope that Odessa can change the future like her mother did, and that she will not turn and kill Ransom. But there were two things that I found jarring in their absence. Hopefully they were edited out and will be covered off in the final book. One was her father's reaction to her and Mae being attacked by his guards. It seemed completely underrated. He was willing to believe the lies to lock up Ransom – despite the fact that he saved both Odessa and Mae from a much worse fate. And the second one was there was no panic from Odessa and Ransom after reading her mother's journal that they had sent a missive to the High Priest about Brother Skore being in Andreas' castle. I would think – given that her mother died killing Voster priests to protect Andreas and baby Odessa that that would be an 'Oh shit' moment. regardless – this is the best book I have read this year so far.
21. Night Broken Mercy Thompson book 8 by Patricia Briggs. After Rites of the Starling I needed to change genres because nothing would have compared, so i went back to an old favourite. I love this book. I don;t like Christy, and I don't like the way the pack let her manipulate them and make Mercy feel unwanted in her own home. But, I do love the way Honey discovers she actually likes Mercy, and has her back. And I love Mercy – she;s a better person than me. I would have fought back but she defended Christy to Jessie. I also loved when Mercy defended Adam. And of course Ben was always behind Mercy – he understands her, and she him, more than any others. It's a great book.
22. Web of Vows and Vengeance – The Hirathean Path Book One by Aria Ashbrook I have such mixed feelings about this book. But I love Rose! And Benny and Llinos – everyone else is dubious. I did love Kyor until the end when he showed he was gutless and and walked away from Rose without a word – bastard! And clearly Thea hadn't been lying – When Hew said he took a page out of Kyor's playbook it was clear that had happened. I kind of hope she goes to the Eastern Isles with Benny and takes Kay with her (ungrateful wretch that she is) and joins the rebellion. One of us! I also still want to know what lies and manipulations Jonas did for the Goddess to mention it. I think Rose is destined to destroy the kingdom and restore order. I'm so disappointed in Kyor. I thought that because Zelle believed in him – he truly was a good man – just misunderstood. I am looking forward to the next book.

May
23. Daughter of the Ninth Line – Book one of the Lines of Ebrus duet by Grace McGinty. I loved this book – I have the complete series in one book, but it was released in three parts. Each part follows the same timeline, but when either Hayle or Vox dies, Avalon resets time. Though they each feel like they already know each other so some sense remains from the earlier timeline. It was a really interesting concept – very enjoyable. These are well written and really easy to read. I laughed, I cried. That's a sign of a good book to me.
24. This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. It may be cheeky to count this twice but since I have actually re-read it I'm going to count it. Because I listened/read the first book, I decided to read it again because I often find I miss bits when I'm just listening. I'm glad I did because I definitely picked up some things I missed first time through – not to mention that it helps me to see how names etc are spelt. I had missed or misunderstood some of the names – there were quite a few important characters to keep track of – and this re-read helped clear up that confusion. Loved it still – maybe even more than the first time through.
25. Atonement Sky – Psy-Changeling Trinity series book 8 by Nalini Singh. Loved it! I loved all the main characters. This will be in my list of re-reads from this series from now on. I loved getting to know the Falcons and the Js better. Great book
26. Slave to Sensation – I felt the urge to go back to the beginning – I've always loved this book. It never fails to deliver.
27. Caressed by Ice – Psy-Changeling book 3 by Nalini Singh. I love this book – especially because Judd is such a strong/cold Psy.
28. Hostage to Pleasure – Psy-Changeling book 5 by Nalini Singh. This is Dorian and Ashaya's story. One of my favourites.
29. Branded by Fire – Psy-Changeling book 6 by Nalini Singh. Mercy and Riley's story – I love this story. Mercy is so strong and so is Riley. I love that she finally found someone. She's a favourite character.
30. Kiss of Snow – Psy-Changeling book 10 by Nalini Singh #8211; Hawke and Sienna's story. I love this book. It's so sad that Sienna lived with the fear of her power all her life, never knowing that Walker's mind was designed to help drain/maintain a safe level of power. And I love the growing romance between Walker and Lara. Walker has always tried to protect the children around him and it's telling that the kids know he loves them even though he's still quite Silent. Finding Alice Eldridge was an interesting twist. if I remember correctly, she never fully recovers. The progression in this series is fantastic. The next book is Kaleb's story – but my absolute favourite book of the series is Vasic and Ivy's story so I might have to jump straight to that one :)