Wombling Along
Helloooo!
It’s the weekend, we are very shortly to have the shortest day and I have a week off! I always feel the run up to this is a bit gruelling and so just knowing days are longer really helps. I have very little planned this weekend apart from some Christmas preparation and hopefully some reading. My reading was spared this weekend but the blog welcomed the mysterious Santa Womble to tempt I mean help.
For new readers Wombling Along is where I like to share reviews and articles that caught my eye across the week. Curl up with a cuppa and enjoy finding something to read
Reviews
First up I noted Fan Fi Addict’s enjoyment of Molka by Monika Kim which takes us to Seoul for a harrowing but powerful tale.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-molka-by-monika-kim/
Reactor look at Aliette de Bodard’s Navigational Entanglements
https://reactormag.com/jellyfish-in-space-aliette-de-bodards-navigational-entanglements/
Jam Reads is (rightly) impressed by The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-salt-oracle-we-are-all-ghosts-in-the-forest-2-by-lorraine-wilson
Dinipanda Reads tempts me with Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamboa
https://dinipandareads.com/2025/12/15/book-review-water-moon-by-samantha-sotto-yambao/
Nerds of a Feather looks at Wrath by Sharon Moslem and Daniel Kraus for some rodent horror
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/12/book-review-wrath-by-sharon-moalem-and.html?m=1
The also enjoy the found family space opera of Rumor Has It by Cat Rambo
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/12/book-review-rumor-has-it-by-cat-rambo.html?m=1
Locus has a short fiction round up looking at Clarkesworld
https://locusmag.com/review/clarkesworld-review-by-a-c-wise-3/
Locus and follows up with reviews of Escape Pod, Lightspeed and Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Lord Samper’s Library is intrigued by A Nest of Nightmares by Lisa Tuttle
https://lordsamperlibrary.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-nest-of-nightmares-paperbacks-from.html?m=1
Strange Horizons has a well written review disappointed with Slashed Beauties by A Rushby
http://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/slashed-beauties-by-a-rushby/
Blue Book Balloon happily far more enjoys the horror of ITCH! By Gemma Amor
https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2025/12/review-itch-by-gemma-amor.html?m=1
Strange Horizons definitely had a better time reading The Deep Forest by Sofia Rhei translated by Kendal Simmons
Transfer Orbit is among many impressed by The Eversting by Alix E Harrow
https://www.andrewliptak.com/alix-harrow-the-everlasting-fantasy-time-travel-book-review/
Jam Reads adds to the view I need to read The Villa Once Beloved by Victor Manibo
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-villa-once-beloved-by-victor-manibo
Locus also reminds me to get to The King Must Die by Kemi Ashing Giwa
https://locusmag.com/review/the-king-must-die-by-kemi-ashing-giwa-review-by-niall-harrison/
Reactor also shared their best short fiction reads from last month
https://reactormag.com/must-read-short-speculative-fiction-november-2025/
Strange Horizons has a look at a book that initially was not working for the author and importantly the reviewer asked themselves why. A fresh approach led to a a read they really enjoyed. For me working out why I’m not enjoying a book - my mood, a clash of fate or more that the story doesn’t work is really key before I decide to review a book I don’t enjoy. However this article also reminds us a fresh head can mean the read is so much better. I loved Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto a lot too!
http://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/hammajang-luck-by-makana-yamamoto/
The Full Lid this week is exceptionally good as Alasdair Stewart ties three reviews into a wider discussion of theme. This is the review equivalent of a triple somersault and just appreciate the craft and insight here
https://mailchi.mp/a448db9dec34/the-full-lid-19th-december-2025
Best of Round Ups
Io9 asks many authors for their best books of 2025
https://gizmodo.com/sci-fi-horror-fantasy-authors-best-books-of-2025-2000694713
Reading the End rounds up best books from the last three months
https://readingtheend.com/2025/12/15/the-very-best-books-of-q4-in-2025/
AC Wise shares their favourite short fiction of 2025
https://acwise.net/favorite-short-fiction-of-2025-2/
Gingernuts of Horror has their best YA Horror of the year
https://gnofhorror.com/the-best-young-adult-horror-books-of-2025/
And Jim of Gingernuts shares their own personal reflections and favourite reads here
https://gnofhorror.com/best-horror-books-of-2025-ginger-nuts-of-horror/
Noveldelights shared their favourite novels of the year
https://noveldeelights.com/2025/12/19/my-top-10-favourite-books-of-2025/
Lithub slightly differently shares their favourite book reviews of the year!
https://lithub.com/the-10-best-book-reviews-of-2025/
In other news
Renay at Lady Business starts to think about Hugo nominations
Charlie Jane Anders discusses the problem of Realism in writing
https://buttondown.com/charliejane/archive/what-is-realism-and-how-can-we-destroy-it/
And while this article discusses loss and grief it also reminds us at this time when the days feel so short and dark that fiction reminds us there can be hope and moments of light too
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/opinion/tolkien-grief-lord-rings.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Round Ups
Bhatia brings up another great Words for Worlds
https://gautambhatia.substack.com/p/words-for-worlds-issue-110
Gav reads have their Sunday Summary
https://gavreads.co.uk/2025/12/14/sunday-summary-14-dec-25/
as always for more reviews and joy ensure you’re subscribed to Renay’s Intergalactic Mixtape
https://buttondown.com/intergalacticmixtape/archive/intergalactic-mixtape-33/
have a lovely weekend, be kind to anyone working in retail, keep reading and I’ll see you soon!
