Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - October 2026 edition

I finished The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood, by H.G. Parry, and it was wonderful, as expected.

Yesterday I picked up The Temptation of Charlotte North (too YA, though not marketed as such), and The Burn Line (too slow getting started). So now I’m on to

It’ll be a quick read, cute and gory. Harrison’s dependable like that.

Finished Ghosts of Sicily: The True Story of the Naval Intelligence Agents Who Courted the Mob to Fight Nazis in America and the Battlefields of Italy, by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr.; and A Sorceress Comes to Call, by T. Kingfisher, both of which I enjoyed, although the latter only at the climax.

Next up: The Quivering Tree: An East Anglian Childhood, by S. T. Haymon; and Bless the Beasts and Children, by Glendon Swarthout.

Finished with First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. A ridiculously complex plot with a timeline that jumped all over the place. Still, a decent story which was totally ruined by the surprise ending which was even more ridiculous. Not recommended.

Next up:

The Girl In 6E by A.R. Torre

I couldn’t sleep last night, so I got up and finished Kiss Slay Replay. I really enjoyed it! I see the term “bubblegum horror” being tossed about in the Goodreads reviews and it seems fitting. It’s just a fun story that also has a lot of horrific death in it. Warning: it also has animal death, which I usually won’t abide, but it’s hardly more affecting than seeing a cartoon coyote fall off a cliff.
Next up: T. Kingfisher’s Daggerbound, yay!

YAY! Indeed!

I’m making headway on Astarion by T. Kingfisher. A little off screen gore stopped me for a couple days - I really don’t like gross stuff - but I’m back to reading it.

I went to my new local library! I found a book there.

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Totally random choice on my part, but I was taken in by the review that said it was the best book about being a writer they’d ever read.

I think it’s a thriller, about a washed-up author who steals someone’s work and suffers for it. I have to give credit for how lovingly the writing world is depicted, right down to the petty jealousy you feel over others’ success and that insufferable asshole in your writers workshop who thinks he already knows everything and…ah, dammit. Turns out he can write.

So far I’m really enjoying it. I think the author leans too heavily on adjectives in her prose, but see, this is what happens when you put me with my people. A+ for accuracy.

There were a number of us Dopers that read that book a few years ago. IIRC, all of us thoroughly enjoyed it, and I hope you do as well!

That’s great to hear.

It was so nice going to the library. My husband and I were on a date, we had some downtime before the movie so we decided to go. We just moved here in July. It’s a lovely library. They even let you check out little tote bags to carry your books.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to wander aimlessly around books. Usually I read on Kindle, but stumbling across a good read is admittedly more satisfying with physical books.

Adding on: and there’s a sequel, appropriately entitled The Sequel, which is fun to read as well. Korelitz has written some very good books.

I was not aware of this book, but I will be reading it soon!

Thanks for the heads-up.

Oh, that’s great! You’re very welcome. Hope you enjoy it.