Wombling Along

reviews

Mar 7

Helloooo!

Welcome to the weekend! And all I can do say is it’s take its time. I knew this week was going to be a tough one for work related reasons but I think it’s paid off but yesterday I was very much having a day off where even a dental appointment felt more relaxing! A chilled long weekend awaits me with a lot of books. I also have Monday off!

Now I was worried as life needed me offline I’d not have much to share but happily I did find some reviews and other things in the very little online time I had this week!

TBR Challenges

3 – First Bloom was the theme and so first yo

As Spring arrives for this change I’d like to read a book that is the debut of an author. Who knows this may become someone you’ll follow forever!

TBRs should be for exploration. For me I’ve randomly chosen Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamboa

Strech Goal – Our TBR piles often have books by our favourite authors lingering because we think we aren’t yet deserving. Congratulations I say you are worthy!

TBRs should also be allowing you to have fun. And for me this is the End of the Day by Claire North

Reviews

SF Book really is impressed by Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky

https://sfbook.com/pretenders-to-the-throne-of-god.htm

Gingernuts of Horror enjoyed The Curse of Hester Gardens by Tamika Thompson

https://gnofhorror.com/the-curse-of-hester-gardens-review-a-gothic-triumph/

Gingernuts was also impressed by Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman for medieval horror

https://gnofhorror.com/between-two-fires-review-medieval-horror/

Gingernuts also looks at The Hospital At The End of the World by Justin C Key

https://gnofhorror.com/the-hospital-at-the-end-of-the-world-review/

The Wrong Questions was impressed by Sympathy Tower Tokyo by Rie Dudan

https://wrongquestions.blogspot.com/2026/03/sympathy-tower-tokyo-by-rie-qudan.html?m=1

Locus really enjoyed the collection Tell Me Yours I’ll Tell You Money by Kristina Ten

https://locusmag.com/review/tell-me-yours-ill-tell-you-mine-by-kristina-ten-review-by-ian-mond/

Locus was impressed by the collection The Year’s Best Science Fiction On Earth Vol 2 edited by Allan Kaster

https://locusmag.com/review/the-years-best-science-fiction-on-earth-3-edited-by-allan-kaster-review-by-alexandra-pierce/

And another great short fiction dive

https://locusmag.com/review/fantasy-magazine-podcastle-and-cast-of-wonders-review-by-maria-haskins/

Skiffy and Fanty loved this SF riff on Moby Dick - Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall

https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/book-review-hells-heart-by-alexis-hall/

Jamreads enjoyed Kayak by Kristal Stittle

https://jamreads.com/reviews/kayak-by-kristal-stittle

Nerds of a Feather was very entertained by Green and Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons

http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/03/book-review-green-and-deadly-things-by.html

The Nerds were also impressed by The Salt Oracle by Lorraine Wilson

http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/03/book-review-salt-oracle-by-lorraine.html

The Nerds continued their read through of the Realm of the Elderlings

http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/03/realm-of-elderlings-project-fitz-and.html

And for good measure tempt me to finally read China Mountain Zheng by Maureen McHugh

http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/03/book-review-china-mountain-zhang.html

Page Chewing really enjoyed A Black Dragon on Red by PL Stuart

https://pagechewing.com/arc-review-a-black-dragon-on-red-by-p-l-stuart/

Reactor had fun with Half City by Kate Golden

https://reactormag.com/book-review-half-city-by-kate-golden/

Ancillary Review of Books is very positive about No Gods for Drowning by Hailey Piper

https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/03/04/why-cant-we-be-friends/

The Fantasy Hive enjoyed The Lighthouse at The End of The World by Philip A Suggars

https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/03/the-lighthouse-at-the-end-of-the-world-by-philip-a-suggars-book-review/

The Hive also take a look at Green and Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons

https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2026/03/green-and-deadly-things-by-jenn-lyons-book-review/

The British Fantasy Society has an interesting look at Rose House by Arkady Martine

https://britishfantasysociety.org/review/rose-house-by-arkady-martine/

Fanfi addict looks at We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone by Ronald Malfi

https://fanfiaddict.com/review-we-should-have-left-well-enough-alone-by-ronald-malfi/

Fantasy Book Critic-really enjoyed This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

https://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2026/03/this-kingdom-will-not-kill-me-ilona-andrews.html?m=1

Strange Horizons tempts me with The Inescapable March by Hana Carolina

https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/the-inescapable-march-by-hana-carolina/

The Book Wyrm’s Hoard tempts me with This Saint’s Deaths Daightwr by CS E Cooney

https://thebookwyrmshoard8.wordpress.com/2026/03/06/why-havent-you-read-this-saint-deaths-daughter-by-c-s-e-cooney/

And finally this review is a treat Strange Horizons looking at Into The Midnight Wood by Alexandra McCollum

https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/into-the-midnight-wood-by-alexandra-mccollum/

Awards

The British Book Awards has a eclectic SF&F nominee list

https://www.thebookseller.com/british-book-awards-content/book-of-the-year-science-fiction-and-fantasy

The British Science Fiction Assoiation has released their awards nominees

https://locusmag.com/2026/03/2025-bsfa-awards-shortlist/

And if a book really touched you last year why not nominate it for the Ursula K Le Guin prize

https://www.ursulakleguin.com/prize-nomination-form

In Other News

Speculative Insight has a great new free article on the history of Indian Feminist Science Fiction

https://www.speculativeinsight.com/

Reactor has a great article with thoughts on genre

https://reactormag.com/unfortunately-i-am-wrestling-with-genre-again/

The British Fantasy Society explores what is folk horror

https://britishfantasysociety.org/is-it-really-possible-to-define-folk-horror/

Ancillary has thoughts on the novel and science fiction in this Snap Criticism

https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/02/25/snap-criticism-okotie-and-thien/

Matthew Cheney has a chewy essay on genre with a horror focus

https://matthewcheney.net/blog/horror-in-theory/

And finally here is sobering reading as Arley Sorg gives the results of a survey where authors of colour share their experience of publishing and also reviewing

https://arleysorg.com/by-the-numbers-10

Round Ups

Novel Delights wraps up February

https://noveldeelights.com/2026/03/05/and-thats-a-wrap-for-february-5/

As does Half Man Half Book

https://halfmanhalfbook.co.uk/book-musings/february-2026-review/

Harare Review of Books has a great roundup of reviews and more!

https://shonatiger.substack.com/p/harare-review-of-books-issue-1-2026?r=18i0sn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true&_src_ref=go.bsky.app

Espressococo gives their February reads

https://espressococo.com/2026/03/03/books-of-february-2026/

Words for Worlds has a new weekly edition

https://gautambhatia.substack.com/p/words-for-worlds-issue-116