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I saw this over on The Strawberry Post, and it seemed like a good way to start to get my plans in order.

An author you’d like to read that you’ve never read?

That’s a great question. I honestly can’t think of one—at least not that I think I’ll make time for this year. Dorothy Sayers—yeah, I’ve read some of her non-fiction, but I haven’t dabbled into her Mystery novels. Agatha Christie (gasp! Shock! I know, I know)—but my guess is that I’ll push that off again. Maybe Dashiell Hammett? I actually bought one of his books last year, that seems most likely.

Oh, oh, I know—Paul D. Brazill! Yeah, I’ve got a hankering to read his stuff and have a very nice looking copy of Guns of Brixton sitting next to my desk.

Guns of Brixton by Paul D. Brazill

A book you’d like to read?

Oh, just so, so many. I’m going to go with The Troubled Deep by Rob Parker. I opened it months ago when I got it, read the first couple of pages and wanted to dive in then (pun unintended, but it made me smile). I trust there’s a good reason that I didn’t—but I need to make room for it. (I could also mention Noelle Holten’s His Truth Her Truth or the two Lee Goldberg books I didn’t make time for last year—mind boggling, or….)

The Troubled Deep by Rob Parker

A classic you’d like to read?

I’ve had a hankering for The Count of Monte Cristo for the last couple of years—I’m not sure where it came from, but it keeps popping up in the back of my mind. I should probably fix that.

A book you’d like to re-read?

Umm…I think Kings of the Wyld is coming up for a book club, and I’d love an excuse to re-read that. Thinking of the first volume of Chu’s The War Arts Saga, too.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames/span>

A book you’ve had for ages and want to read?

This is where I should insert a .gif of me weeping uncontrollably. There’s just so many… Everything I mentioned in this post. Everything I thought about mentioning in thsi post Everything I should’ve thought about mentioning.

A big book you’d like to read?

Herne’s A Curse of Krakens. As good as that series has been, it’s mind-boggling that I keep delaying reading it.

A Curse of Krakens by Kevin Hearne

or…What’s Next, something I’ve been trying to find time for since last 2024. Without actually counting pages of various books, those’re the biggest sitting on my TBR shelves.

What’s Next by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack

An author you’ve previously read and would like to read more of?

JCM Berne. There’s just no reason that I haven’t read everything by him. (are there others I could name here? Yup. But Berne’s weighing on me)

A book you got for Christmas and would like to read?

If only…I don’t get books for the holidays. Sure, I have several lists my family can access with ideas, but it just doesn’t happen. An author gave me a book at an event in November—that’s the closest thing I can think of—so, I guess I’ll say Entombed by Kate Baray. Which looks like a lot of fun.

Entombed by Kate Baray

A series you want to read from start to finish?

Huh. I cannot think of one. Probably because I can only think of series I haven’t finished/caught up on. Okay, readers—hit me. What series (think small, please—let’s be realistic) should I tackle en toto this year?

A series you want to finish that you’ve already started?

Okay…let’s see. There’s the aforementioned War Arts Saga, The Seven Kennings, and Hybrid Helix series. Winslow’s Danny Ryan trilogy. The Broken Blades books. Dark Lord Davi duology, and—probably most of all: Red Rising I know it’s going to destroy me. But I need to know how Brown’s going to wrap it all up.

Do you set reading goals?  If so how many books do you want to read in 2026?

I have few reading goals this year (a more complete post on this is coming soon). There are 3 big ones this year—1. Any book that I buy this year, I want to read this year (unless I buy it for a 2027 project). 2. I want to read the 24 of Slate’s 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years that I haven’t already. 3. I want to reduce my Owned-But-Not-Read, stack. It’s just out of control.
I set my Goodreads goal at 225. I’m not that invested in hitting that, and if I don’t because I’m reading a bunch of fat books that take thought and time? I’m okay with that. If I don’t hit it for other reasons…well, that probably says something about my health/mental state, and should set off alarm bells for me/my family.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

This was created by Ariel at Books Unbound, and according to Biblio Nerd Reflections, you can find the latest version on their podcast: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/. I did this tag back in 2019, 2022, and 2023, then completely forgot about it until I saw it at Biblio Nerd Reflections last week.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Wisdom for Life: 52 Old Testament Meditations by Michael P V Barrett	Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism by Zacharias Ursinus	Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks

There are my three “project reads,” that I’m scheduled to finish—and then any that I start between now and then I’ve got a couple of reading challenge books, but not much. Really, it’s just finishing what I start.

(and being strategic about what I start) 😊

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I don’t think of books seasonally—I definitely don’t have an annual book for this kind of thing. I think Callus and Crow served well that way. You’ve got creepy vampires, an autumnal atmosphere. Something Wicked This Way Comes did, too.

Callus & Crow by D. B. Rook	Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

	Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Ace Atkins

Ace Atkins’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World looks so good, and is apparently “hilarious” (according to Robert Crais, anyway). I don’t think there’s anything else I’m waiting for—I could be wrong, but I think I’m done with big ones for the year—which is good, because I’ve already started collecting them for next year.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler	Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw	Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Well, there’s the Holiday TBR from last week (I’ve read two of them). But I’ve already talked about them, so let’s go with these.

Is there a book you think that could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Probably—almost anything that I start now. The Atkins or Lewis books I mentioned above are possible. Especially a book that I end up reading in the next month or so that I haven’t thought about until now. I don’t have any I could predict—but I’m prepared to be surprised. I will say, they’d have to be fantastic, ‘cuz I’ve read some spectacular books this year.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2026?

Yes, I have started making plans. They’re very much scaled-back compared to the last couple of years. My goals are to focus on whimsy, impulse (irresponsibly so), and attacking books I own. Raven Crime Reads spent 2025 focusing on “Reading like No One’s Watching.” I think I want to try to do that, too.

Another way to think about 2026 for me is Butcher’s Twelve Months, Pierce Brown’s Red God, and a bunch of other things TBD that really don’t matter as much.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.

I enjoy doing these mid-year check ins, like this one from The Orangutan Librarian or Stephen Writes, and a few other places I forgot to bookmark. And I typically do one of them around this time, too. This year, I saw the way that Emma @ Words And Peace mashed-up and reorganized a couple of these tags into one. I liked it enough that I’m using her format.

Now, I’m indecisive as usual, so for most of these prompts I gave three responses because I just couldn’t decide. Hope you enjoy.

1. How many books reads so far in 2025?

140

2. What genre I read most of:

As of June 30, it was Mystery/Crime/Thriller with 29% of my reading.

3. My favorite so far:

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman	Don’t Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp	My Documents by Kevin Nguyen

4. Best sequel:

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett	The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart	Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

5. Surprisingly good:

For the record, I expected that all of these were going to be good–which explains me reading/listening. But I didn’t think they’d be as good as they were. (I think that’s the intent of the catgory, I just want to stress it)

The Amazing Twin Chicken Freedom Fighters by Zephaniah Sole	The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong, read by Phyllis Ho	I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney, ready by Sean Patrick Hopkins

6. Most disappointing:

The Greatest Nobodies of History: Minor Characters from Major Moments by Adrian Bliss	That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis	A Little History of Music by Robert Philip, read by Zeb Soanes

I’m NOT suggesting that That Hideous Strength was bad. It just wasn’t as good as the others in the trilogy, so it was a disappointment. The other two, were “meh” at best.

7. New favorite author discovered in 2025:

Kevin Nguyen	Michael Michel	Thomas Trang

8. New favorite character:

Garlenna Renwood, body guard/conscience, of Prince Barodane Ironlight. I can’t put my finger on what exactly is appealing about her–everything? She’s just the best character in Michel’s series (so far), and there are plenty to choose from.

Tchaikovsky’s Enth was both a fascinating (and fun!) character in himself. He was also a compelling look at humanity from a very inhuman perspective. I could’ve picked a few more characters from this book, but Enth is one that I’m not going to forget anytime soon.

Maggie Dunn kept you guessing and finding new layers to her on every page. Karp made her a remarkable character. I wrote about her on a couple of occasions, and I know I haven’t said everything I’d like to.

9. Made me cry:

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman	Don’t Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp	Tilt by Emma Pattee, read by Ariel Blake

Nothing has got me there quite yet (I think I said something similar last year, and within a week that streak was over). But…The Bright Sword got close. Tilt made me think about it. Don’t tell Me How to Die almost did get me misty, surprisingly early, too.

10. Made me happy:

Really everything I rated 3 stars or above (the overwhelming majority of what I’ve read this year) has done that. But these three titles stand out along those lines:

I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney, ready by Sean Patrick Hopkins	Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto	One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

12. Most beautiful book bought:

Five Broken Blades (Deluxe Limited Edition) by Mai Corland

(although the other two in the trilogy might come close, we’ll have to see if I want to buy those)

13. Need to finish:

Whatever I’m reading/listening to today 🙂

Also:

Wisdom for Life: 52 Old Testament Meditations by Michael P. V. Barrett	Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism by Zacharias Ursinus	Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks

The first two of these I’m not going to finish until Dec. 28th (Lord willing), they’re designed that way. The Brooks book is one I’m working through with someone, and we’re taking our time, and may not finish this year.

14. Most anticipated 2025 read:

Thus far:

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett	When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

15. Most anticipated upcoming 2025 release:

The Final Vow by M.W. Craven	Silver and Lead by Sanan McGuire

If it was a footrace, The Final Vow, would be so far in the lead that it’d discourage everyone else–with the exception of Silver and Lead, because I’m not used to waiting this long for Toby Daye.

16. Next big priority:

Finishing off this list:

17. Bookish highlights:

Shared Stories book clubs, it’s just so cool to talk about books with a bunch of similarly-minded people at once. The interactions I’ve had here/on video or on social media with various and sundry writers/readers/bloggers. And everything mentioned above.

As usual, I’m not tagging anyone in this—but I’d like to see what you all have to come up with.