Hellooooo!
Welcome to Wombling Along the blog’s weekly round up of reviews and other things that caught my eye online this week. Grab a cuppa and a treat and there will be no treats or me trying to trick you with a troll suddenly appearing with a con report like lesser blogs do who should know better …ahem.
This week was lovely! We had a great days in York and despite a rather windy drive it was a very relaxing trip. I strongly recommend visiting The Portal Bookshop there which is full of delights. Then I decided time to reorganise my room and bookshelves…this took some time and still needs some final touches but the room looks a lot more relaxing and I can find things again. I saw my oldest friends for a catch up and I’ve even managed to read and review - ahhh bliss. Balance has been achieved
Now let’s see who was book tempting this week?
Reviews
At Boundary’s Edge has a mixed reaction to Best New SF 7 edited by Gardner Dozois
https://atboundarysedge.com/2026/10/30/book-review-best-new-sf-7-edited-by-gardner-dozois/
For the season SFF World was scared by The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
Locus tempts with Vaster Than Empires a new anthology edited by Jonathan Strahan
https://locusmag.com/review/vaster-than-empires-edited-by-jonathan-strahan-review-by-maya-c-james/
They also round up some horror short fiction
https://locusmag.com/2026/10/where-to-find-the-best-horror-stories-this-halloween/
And enjoyed As You Wake Break The Shell by Becky Chambers
And dives fully into Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel
https://locusmag.com/review/exit-party-by-emily-st-john-mandel-review-by-niall-harrison/
Reactor recommends The Calamities by Chuck Wendig
https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-calamities-by-chuck-wendig/
Nerds of a Feather recommend Forged for Prophecy by Andrew Knighton
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/11/microreview-forged-for-prophecy-by.html
Jam Reads also dived into The Excutioner’’s Blade by Andrew Knighton
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-executioners-blade-by-andrew-knighton
And also loved Beasts of the Wild Black by RJ Barker
https://jamreads.com/reviews/beasts-of-the-wild-black-a-deep-space-novella-by-rj-barker
And tempts again with Our Infinite and Inevitable Ends by AD Sui
https://jamreads.com/reviews/our-infinite-and-inevitable-ends-by-ad-sui
WM Henry Morris looks of Katherine Addison’s Cemeteries of Amalo trilogy
https://wmhenrymorris.com/nonfiction/Katherine-Addison-Cemeteries-Amalo.html
Becky’s Book Blog was thrilled by Wolves of War by John Gwynne
https://crooksbooks.blog/2026/10/29/the-wolves-of-war-by-john-gwynne-arc-review/
Fantasy Reviews was entertained by Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros
https://fantasy-reviews.co.uk/2026/10/28/threshing-day-by-rebecca-yarros-book-review/
Gingernuts of Horror really recommends Incarnate by Alma Katsu
https://gnofhorror.com/alma-katsu-incarnate-review/
While the classic The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde gets delved into
https://gnofhorror.com/mr-hyde-monster/
At Fan Fi Addict Horror Romance is the topic of the non diction Love Never Dies by Emma Cole
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-love-never-dies-by-emma-cole/
The Unofficial Hugo Bookclub delves into the Tyrant Philosophers By Adrian Tchaikovsky
http://hugoclub.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-poetry-of-imperfection.html
Pots and Plots has a mixed review of Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger
https://potsandplots.blog/2026/10/26/life-out-of-order-by-audrey-niffenegger-a-sequel-about-time/
A Reader of Else continues their Lord of the Rings review and the end is near
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub is impressed by The Last Star In The Void by Melissa Caruso
Ancillary Review of Books is very impressed by The Scarlet Ball by Nghi Vo
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/10/26/one-must-suffer-to-be-beautiful/
The Small Press Despatch section has a new novella to tempt
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/10/28/by-her-works-shall-ye-know-her/
In Other News
Speculative Insight has a fascinating author discussion on King Arthur
https://www.speculativeinsight.com/extras
Elizabeth Bear looks at ahem messy characters
https://www.patreon.com/matociquala/posts/in-defense-of-up-173293072
Lit Hub looked at Post apocalyptic fiction
https://lithub.com/embracing-the-darkness-in-praise-of-writing-post-apocalyptic-fiction/
Joanne Harris discusses why we should appreciate stories by humans
Gingernuts of Horror decodes reviewing! Very seriously
https://gnofhorror.com/horror-review-cliches-dictionary/
GQ has an article looking very broadly at the state of publishing
https://www.gq.com/story/state-of-books-2026
A new site on my radar was this round up of links via Speculative Fiction Showcase
http://indiespecfic.blogspot.com/2026/10/speculative-fiction-links-of-week-for_01856004856.html
Books, Bones & Buddy did a round up of the month
https://booksbonesbuffy.com/2026/10/31/october-2026-reading-wrap-up/
Twirling Book Princess has a community post round up
https://twirlingbookprincess.com/2026/10/community-posts-i-adored-in-october-2026/
There is an excellent Full Lid to read
https://mailchi.mp/a9c5ac82ae8a/the-full-lid-30th-october-2026
For more excellent round ups and analysis always remember to dive into Renay’s excellent Intergalactic Mixtape
https://buttondown.com/intergalacticmixtape/archive/intergalactic-mixtape-77/
That should keep you in trouble for a week. Now grab a cup of Earl Grey Hot and think of an excellent actor who made a great impression as an artist and also a human being.
Have a great weekend, enjoy your reading and I will see you soon!
