Wombling Along
Helloooo!
Welcome to Wombling Along - the blog’s weekend supplement where I share the reviews and online articles that caught my eye. The idea is as we hurtle through doomscrolling we occasionally miss a post and as the reviews gather you may get some consensus on what books may be worth picking up plus appreciate some insightful reviews.
My week
I often find this is the hardest month post Chris and because you’re trying to balance all the relaxed energy, desire for a reset with a pretty much standard return to normal life at normal pace. As is tradition it proved bumpy as the cold I mentioned last week got much stronger and unusually I’ve had a few days in bed recovering. The bright side is I could at least read even if not review so my aim to always have a little firewall of reviews in the bank is pretty much built but I am glad I feel better. I’ve also just read a few books that I just wanted to read and don’t have any need or desire to review for some balance in my life!
This does mean next week at work involves quite a bit of catch up but we will get there! Overall the blog feels to have settled into the rhythm of work I wanted to keep up so all looks good. A few other projects now need activation…
Reviews
Harare Review of Books starts these off with what sounds a fascinating piece of non fiction exploring our evolving relationship with the internet Racebook - A Personal History of the Internet by Tochi Onyebuchi
Jam Reads as always keep up the pace and variety and their week involved The Hollow Covenant by Andrea Stewart. A series I really hope to catch up on soon!
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-war-beyond-the-hollow-covenant-2-by-andrea-stewart
They also have The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-helm-of-midnight-the-five-penalties-1-by-marina-lostetter
They also have The Drowned Heir by Jennifer R Donohue to tempt
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-drowned-heir-by-jennifer-r-donohue
For some horror short fiction Literary Titan really enjoyed the anthology Final Curtain edited by Steve Berman
https://literarytitan.com/2026/01/13/final-curtain/
The Fantasy Hive has a tempting look at this post apocalyptic tale We Call Them Witches by India Rose Bower
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/we-call-them-witches-by-india-rose-bower-book-review/
They also have a bit of monster romance with Untethering Dark by Desiree M Niccoll
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/untethering-dark-by-desiree-m-niccoli-the-monster-botherer/
Plus they add to the reasons you should read A Sword of Gold and Ruin by Anna Smith Spark
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/01/a-sword-of-gold-and-ruin-by-anna-smith-spark-book-review/
James David Nicoll has a review of Private Rited by Julia Armfield that for me connects with my own more mixed reaction to this book than some other reviewers
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-head
Fantasy Book Nerd looks at horror novella The Dwimfolk by James Brogden
https://www.fantasybooknerd.com/2026/01/book-review-dwimfolk-james-brogden.html?m=1
Gingernuts of Horror loved AG Slatter’s contemporary folk horror take The Cold House
https://gnofhorror.com/the-cold-house-by-a-g-slatter-review-grief-horror/
Strange Horizons has a piece of speculative verse to delve into with Syncopation by Whitney French
https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/syncopation-by-whitney-french/
Witty and Sarcastic Book Club was very impressed by fantasy that may not quite be cosy in the form of Strange Animals by Jarod K Anderson
Dinipanda Reads has their first experience of Robin Hobb with the classic Assassin’s Apprentice and enjoyed the experience!
https://dinipandareads.com/2026/01/12/book-review-assassins-apprentice-by-robin-hobb/
Fan fi Addict caught my eye with this review of City of Others by Jared Poon
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-city-of-others-the-deus-files-1-by-jared-poon/
Vector advance tempted me with this review of Sauuti Terrors edited by Eugen Bacon, Cheryl Ntumy and Stephen Embleton
https://vector-bsfa.com/2026/01/13/sauuti-terrors-review/
Locus has a look at Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Strange Horizons short fiction
They also have a tempting review of The Essence by Dave Hutchinson which I am keen to read
https://locusmag.com/review/the-essence-by-dave-hutchinson-review-by-paul-di-filippo/
Blue Book Balloon puts on my radar The Devil In Silver by Victor Lavelle
https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2026/01/review-devil-in-silver-by-victor-lavalle.html?m=1
Reactor enjoyed An Unlikely Coven by AM Kvita
https://reactormag.com/book-review-an-unlikely-coven-by-am-kvita/
I do like a good review of a bad book and Doomsday Machines has this to warn you off…
https://doomsdaymachines.net/p/you-too-can-survive-a-nuclear-war
Ancillary Review of Books really enjoyed Letters From An Imaginary Country by Theodora Goss
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/01/16/the-other-perspective/
Jos book blog reminds me to read After Midnight by Daphne Du Maurier
https://josbookblog.co.uk/2026/01/16/after-midnight-by-daphne-du-maurier/
And finally What Cathy Read Next tackles A Granite Silence by Nina Allan
https://whatcathyreadnext.co.uk/2026/01/16/book-review-a-granite-silence-by-nina-allan/
Best of Lists
Imyril of There is Always Room For One More has their selection of reading highlights
https://onemore.org/2026/01/11/best-of-2025/
Timy of Queens Book Asylum also has their choices
https://queensbookasylum.com/2026/01/13/timys-top-10-reads-of-2025/
Award News
And so it begins….the cycle for the year starts with an interesting selection of books for the Phillip K Dick Awards. You know what I’m tempted to have a look at these before April’s winners are announced.
https://locusmag.com/2026/01/2026-philip-k-dick-award-nominees/
In Other News
I heard about this as World Fantasy last year and this article is confirming that many publishers in reaction to the US government’s right wing condemnation of anything queer have decided to be cowardly and step back from encouraging diversity and inclusion. I’d like to say I’m shocked but…I hope UK publishers do not follow this trend
the Wrong Questions continue their read through of Lord of the Rings and one of the big chapters in the book
https://wrongquestions.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-great-tolkien-reread-shadow-of-past.html?m=1
I still am rubbish at watching TV but I do want to watch Pluribus and Impramit DAs has a great essay here exploring their changing reactions to the show. There is a great reminder here that one episode in a story doesn’t always mean you’ve got the whole theme of a show. This was a great read
https://reactormag.com/resisting-the-hivemind-pluribus-generative-ai-and-empire/
Gingernuts of Horror has a fascinating essay of why the Hellraiser films went off track which may explain a few issues with sequels
https://gnofhorror.com/hellraiser-analysis-how-love-limit-experiences/
Ancillary Review of Books reminded people of this excellent article about reading weird fiction in an age of racism
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2025/05/02/reading-weird-fiction-in-an-age-of-fascism/
Round Ups
Gav Reads has their weekly summary
https://gavreads.co.uk/2026/01/11/sunday-summary-11-th-jan-26/
as always I remind you for weekly joy to delve into The Full Lid
https://alasdairstuart.com/full-lid/the-full-lid-16th-january-2026/
and never forget for more tempting ensure you get to the awesome Intergalactic Mixtape
https://buttondown.com/intergalacticmixtape/archive/intergalactic-mixtape-36/
I hope you have a great weekend and keep reading!
