Wombling Along
Helloooo!!!
Welcome to Wombling Along the blog’s weekend supplement where I share reviews, articles and more than catch my eye online this week. Grab a cuppa and relax while others do the Booktempting.
My week was sadly full on work with no hotel breakfasts. On the bright side I am actually back to a normalish review schedule! Quite a few more coming soon but I’ve had pretty much confirmed the thing that has been keeping me busy so far this year will be now the rest of the year and so blog wise I’m currently focused on books existing in Mount TBR and a few award shortlists still to read. I’m sure it will all be over by Christmas!
Reviews
Before We Go found The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix and accurate reflection of the times
Strange Horizons explores the intricacy of CL Clark’s Magic of the Lost trilogy
https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/the-sovereign-by-c-l-clark/
Asking the Wrong Questions has a fellowship ending in their Lord of the Rings Reread
http://wrongquestions.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-great-tolkien-reread-great-river.html
Reader of Else looks at the fall of Denethor in their own
Reactor in their look at translated fiction explores Bothayna El Essas’ The Book Censor’s Library
https://reactormag.com/found-in-translation-bothayna-al-essas-the-book-censors-library/
They’re also very impressed by The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus
https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-sixth-nik-by-daniel-kraus/
Some temptation for me awaits in Heavens Graveyard by Grace Curtis
https://reactormag.com/book-review-heavens-graveyard-by-grace-curtis/
Locus in looks at a recent issue of Khoreo magazine
https://locusmag.com/review/khoreo-review-by-a-c-wise-2/
They also tempt strongly The Coffin of Honey by Geoffrey D Morrison
https://locusmag.com/review/the-coffin-of-honey-by-geoffrey-d-morrison-review-by-ian-mond/
And also intrigue Japanese Gothic by Alex Brown
https://locusmag.com/review/japanese-gothic-by-kylie-lee-baker-review-by-alex-brown/
By pure coincidence Thrutopia reviewed the excellent When There Are Wolves Again by E J Swift which we may see again later in this edition
https://thrutopia.substack.com/p/book-review-when-there-are-wolves
Reading Reality had fun with The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious by Scott Lynch
Ancillary Review has a new Snap Criticism matching the work of Rhett David with that of Christopher Warley
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/08/14/snap-criticism-rhett-davis-christopher-warley/
And overall recommends Them by Richard Chizmar
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/08/12/where-is-the-love/
Further tempting is done with a look at The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/08/13/science-fantasy-and-the-joy-of-genre-braiding/
While those of us enjoying our weird fiction can tuck into the latest Profane Illuminations with a selection of recent delights
https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/08/11/profane-illuminations-4/
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub was impressed by Indie Darking by Lauren Nossett
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2026/08/11/book-review-indie-darling-by-lauren-nossett/
Nerds of a feather have smart triple bill of books reviews to dive into
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/08/book-nanoreviews-heavens-graveyard.html
KJ Charles does a round up of their romance reading
https://www.kjcharleswriter.com/all-blog-posts/mznb3x2zo1xi7wicqsk29h4q4i6ne8
Irresponsible Reader really enjoyed A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
As does Fantasy Book Critic
https://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2026/08/review-trade-of-blood-robert-jackson-bennett.html
Becky’s Book had a mixed reaction to The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass by Lesley Penelope
A Literary Escape really enjoyed Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless
https://aliteraryescape.com/2026/08/10/daughter-of-the-otherworld/
Gingernuts of horror pulls me towards the dark side reviewing The Devil Inside. G Clay McLeod Chapman
https://gnofhorror.com/devil-inside-by-clay-mcleod-chapman-review/
Intrigues me with A Plagued sea by Kim Bo Young
https://gnofhorror.com/a-plagued-sea-by-kim-bo-young-korean-lovecraft/
And I want a copy of Where The Roaches Are by CC Adams
https://gnofhorror.com/where-the-roaches-are-by-cc-adams-review/
Page Chewing is also very impressed by The Chosen One Con by Trudie Skies
https://pagechewing.com/arc-review-of-the-chosen-one-con-by-trudie-skies/
Skiffy and Fanty tempt Night Pool by Lauren Lee Smith
https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/review-night-pool-lauren-lee-smith/
Jam Reads delves into The Infinite State by Richard Swan
https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-infinite-state-the-decurion-saga-1-by-richard-swan
In other news
The Ignyte Awards will soon be announced and Nerds of A Feather look at the novella shortlist
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/08/reading-ignyte-outstanding-novella-2026.html
Reactor has thoughtful essay looking at recycling of discourse which I can relate to
https://reactormag.com/perhaps-we-could-find-some-new-book-topics-to-argue-about/
The Aurora award winners were announced
https://locusmag.com/2026/08/2026-aurora-awards-winners/
I am wary of AI overload but strongly recommend this essay by Brandon O’Brian looking at who tends to be accused of using AI
https://www.patreon.com/therisingtithes/posts/essay-beyond-165898595
the Clarke Awards were announced and Prospective Culture looked at the shortlist
https://prospectiveculture.wordpress.com/2026/08/09/clarke-award-2026-shortlist-review/
And pleased to say the winner of the Clarke’s was the excellent When There Are Wolves Again by EJ Swift - READ IT!
Speculative Insight have released an essay about a post-capitalist society
https://www.speculativeinsight.com/from-the-vault
As always remember to delve into The Full Lid
https://mailchi.mp/695dd8573b61/the-full-lid-24th-july-17251169
And for more Booktempting please read Renay’s excellent Intergalactic Mixtape
https://buttondown.com/intergalacticmixtape/archive/intergalactic-mixtape-66/
I am off to explore The Mersey Tunnel but keep reading and have a lovely weekend.
I’ll see you again soon!
