Book Review: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer | Cozy Literary Fiction

Always Be Reading: TBR Top Up Three [Season Three Finale]

It’s time for a TBR refresh! In this episode - the season 3 finale! - I’m sharing the books currently on my to-be-read list, along with a few upcoming releases that have caught my eye. Whether you're looking to add to your own stack or just want to hear about what’s on my radar, tune in for a mix of anticipated reads and spontaneous picks. Always Be Reading! Episode Overview In this To-Be-Read (TBR) refresh, I stack up a fresh selection of highly anticipated books. This episode dives into a rich mix of genres, honest mid-read updates, and why you should never be ashamed to DNF a book that doesn't spark joy. * Genre Deep Dives: Exploring the boundaries of Cli-Fi (climate fiction), Asian "healing fiction" with a bit of a bite, non-fiction historical mapping, and the subversion of the dark academia/magical boarding school trope. * The Power of Subversion: A discussion on how veteran speculative fiction authors breathe fresh life into overly played-out fantasy tropes. * Reading Reflections: Candid critiques on narrative craft, balancing heavy theoretical prose with lighter reads, and the mechanical shift when a romantasy novel hits its final act. Here are the books I’ll be chatting about today:  * A Guardian & A Thief: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780593804872] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/3Pq9sPP]  * Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781668099834] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/40SzxcG]  * The Conjuring of America: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781538769508] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rSRwKX]  * A Deadly Education: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780593128503] | Amazon  [https://amzn.to/41vgpBG] Other books discussed: * Water Moon: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780593725016] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4bQxqeA] (listen to my review from S1 here [https://redcircle.com/shows/e722a333-822a-46cd-b90e-f14bf6f548ad]) * The Temeraire Series - Book One is "His Majesty's Dragon": Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780593359549] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/41sRdvB]  * The Knight & The Moth: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780316582704] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/3NHeDKC]  * The Knave & The Moon: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780316601849] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/3Pumagp]  Other links: * TBR Top Up #2 [https://redcircle.com/shows/e722a333-822a-46cd-b90e-f14bf6f548ad] * BONUS EPISODE: Cozy Fantasy Books — Low Stakes, High Comfort Reads [https://redcircle.com/shows/e722a333-822a-46cd-b90e-f14bf6f548ad/episodes/d31fe4f1-ca6b-4180-b2c8-6f95097dc8e4] * Cozy Fantasy — Low Stakes, High Comfort [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/p/cozy-fantasy-low-stakes-high-comfort] (Substack post) (Using Apple Podcasts on desktop and can’t click? Copy/paste this link into your browser: https://bookshop.org/lists/tbr-top-up-3) This episode is hosted, produced, and edited by Verdell Walker. Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You can find more details and the full license information at Audionautix Creative Commons Music [https://audionautix.com/creative-commons-music]. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Amazon. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase of any of my fiction and nonfiction book recs, at no extra cost to you! P.S. Looking for a playful way to tend to your reading life? Join the community newsletter and receive a free The Book Up Bingo Card to add a little m ore cozy to your bookish goals and TBR pile! Sign up here: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo] CONNECT WITH THE BOOK UP Stories bring us all together, and there’s always room in my reading nook for everybody. Website: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/ [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/] Instagram: @thebookuppod [https://tinyurl.com/46hvyajb] YouTube: @TheBookUpPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookUpPodcast] Substack: https://thebookuppod.substack.com/ [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/] Shop: The Book Up Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookup] If you'd like to support the show, please visit The Book Up on Ko-fi [https://ko-fi.com/thebookuppodcast] to give a one-time or monthly gift. And if you can’t give financially right now? Help me reach more book lovers like you by following the podcast & leaving a rating or review on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-up-with-verdell-walker-book-reviews-book-recs/id1806407128] & Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4wUjGy4LgfVotVsGc79AUo?si=6b34aeaa5c9c4830]!

Book Review: The Everlasting by Alix Harrow | Fiction - Fantasy, Romance

Love books? Looking for honest book reviews and book recs? Whether you're a lifelong reader, crawling out of a reading slump, or just need a trusted voice to help you find a great story — you're in the right place. Today’s book is "The Everlasting" by Alix Harrow, a romantic fantasy about a legendary lady knight, a time-traveling historian who's obsessed with her story, and what happens when the myth and the real person finally meet. It's got time loops, epic romance, and a sharp takedown of how history gets written — and who gets to write it. This episode is just a scooch over 15 minutes because I NEEDED to wax poetic about it and gather my emotions at times! If you’d like to read it, you can purchase a copy for your TBR pile: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781250799081] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4v2X0FY]  (Using Apple Podcasts on desktop and can’t click? Copy/paste this link into your browser: https://bookshop.org/lists/season-three-featured-books) Oh, I’ve got some more lady knight books for you if this one isn’t enough: * The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780316582704] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/48auJmN]  * The Second Death of Locke by V L Bovalino (on my TBR): Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781538776575] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4bQZFtw]  * The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780063418813] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4tg7j7T]  * The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780316595087] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4ccWTz5]  This episode is hosted, produced, and edited by Verdell Walker. Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You can find more details and the full license information at Audionautix Creative Commons Music [https://audionautix.com/creative-commons-music]. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Amazon. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase of any of my fiction and nonfiction book recs, at no extra cost to you! P.S. Looking for a playful way to tend to your reading life? Join the community newsletter and receive a free The Book Up Bingo Card to add a little m ore cozy to your bookish goals and TBR pile! Sign up here: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo] CONNECT WITH THE BOOK UP Stories bring us all together, and there’s always room in my reading nook for everybody. Website: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/ [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/] Instagram: @thebookuppod [https://tinyurl.com/46hvyajb] YouTube: @TheBookUpPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookUpPodcast] Substack: https://thebookuppod.substack.com/ [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/] Shop: The Book Up Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookup] If you'd like to support the show, please visit The Book Up on Ko-fi [https://ko-fi.com/thebookuppodcast] to give a one-time or monthly gift. And if you can’t give financially right now? Help me reach more book lovers like you by following the podcast & leaving a rating or review on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-up-with-verdell-walker-book-reviews-book-recs/id1806407128] & Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4wUjGy4LgfVotVsGc79AUo?si=6b34aeaa5c9c4830]!

Book Review: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer | Cozy Literary Fiction

Love books? Looking for honest book reviews and book recs? Whether you're a lifelong reader, crawling out of a reading slump, or just need a trusted voice to help you find a great story — you're in the right place. Today’s book is "The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer. This charming, whimsical novel follows Lucy Hart, a 26-year-old teacher's aide who grew up feeling unloved and found comfort in a beloved children's book series. When the reclusive author behind those books resurfaces with a brand-new title and an invitation to compete for the only copy, Lucy jumps at the chance because winning could mean everything for her and the seven-year-old boy she's trying to adopt. Think Willy Wonka vibes, a slow-burn romance, and a love letter to the books that shaped us. If you’d like to read it, you can purchase a copy for your TBR pile: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780593598856] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4s9ifUx]  Other books by Meg that I mentioned: * The Lost Story: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9780593598856] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4s9ifUx] (on my TBR pile) * The Book Witch: a DNF for me, my thoughts here [https://www.instagram.com/p/DV2K8fIFujD/?igsh=MWRvN2RqbnJiMG5pag%3D%3D&img_index=1] (Using Apple Podcasts on desktop and can’t click? Copy/paste this link into your browser: https://bookshop.org/lists/season-three-featured-books [https://bookshop.org/lists/season-three-featured-books]) Curious about the cozy fantasy content I mention in the episode? I gotchu: * BONUS EPISODE: Cozy Fantasy Books — Low Stakes, High Comfort Reads [https://redcircle.com/shows/e722a333-822a-46cd-b90e-f14bf6f548ad/episodes/d31fe4f1-ca6b-4180-b2c8-6f95097dc8e4] * Cozy Fantasy — Low Stakes, High Comfort [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/p/cozy-fantasy-low-stakes-high-comfort] (Substack post) This episode is hosted, produced, and edited by Verdell Walker. Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You can find more details and the full license information at Audionautix Creative Commons Music [https://audionautix.com/creative-commons-music]. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Amazon. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase of any of my fiction and nonfiction book recs, at no extra cost to you! P.S. Looking for a playful way to tend to your reading life? Join the community newsletter and receive a free The Book Up Bingo Card to add a little m ore cozy to your bookish goals and TBR pile! Sign up here: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo] CONNECT WITH THE BOOK UP Stories bring us all together, and there’s always room in my reading nook for everybody. Website: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/ [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/] Instagram: @thebookuppod [https://tinyurl.com/46hvyajb] YouTube: @TheBookUpPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookUpPodcast] Substack: https://thebookuppod.substack.com/ [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/] Shop: The Book Up Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookup] If you'd like to support the show, please visit The Book Up on Ko-fi [https://ko-fi.com/thebookuppodcast] to give a one-time or monthly gift. And if you can’t give financially right now? Help me reach more book lovers like you by following the podcast & leaving a rating or review on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-up-with-verdell-walker-book-reviews-book-recs/id1806407128] & Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4wUjGy4LgfVotVsGc79AUo?si=6b34aeaa5c9c4830]!

Book Review: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén | Domestic Literary Fiction

Love books? Looking for honest book reviews and book recs? Whether you're a lifelong reader, crawling out of a reading slump, or just need a trusted voice to help you find a great story — you're in the right place. Today’s book is "When the Cranes Fly South" by Lisa Ridzén, which tells the story of Bo, an elderly man who attempts to mend his relationship with his son before it's too late. Bo also fights to maintain his independence and to keep his beloved dog, Sixten, when his son insists on taking the dog away due to Bo's age. This moving, poignant novel deals with themes of love, loss, aging, and atonement. If you’d like to read it, you can purchase a copy for your TBR pile: Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9798217006731] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/40rsCqH]  (Using Apple Podcasts on desktop and can’t click? Copy/paste this link into your browser: https://bookshop.org/lists/season-three-featured-books) This episode is hosted, produced, and edited by Verdell Walker. Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You can find more details and the full license information at Audionautix Creative Commons Music [https://audionautix.com/creative-commons-music]. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Amazon. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase of any of my fiction and nonfiction book recs, at no extra cost to you! P.S. Looking for a playful way to tend to your reading life? Join the community newsletter and receive a free The Book Up Bingo Card to add a little m ore cozy to your bookish goals and TBR pile! Sign up here: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo] CONNECT WITH THE BOOK UP Stories bring us all together, and there’s always room in my reading nook for everybody. Website: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/ [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/] Instagram: @thebookuppod [https://tinyurl.com/46hvyajb] YouTube: @TheBookUpPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookUpPodcast] Substack: https://thebookuppod.substack.com/ [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/] Shop: The Book Up Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookup] If you'd like to support the show, please visit The Book Up on Ko-fi [https://ko-fi.com/thebookuppodcast] to give a one-time or monthly gift. And if you can’t give financially right now? Help me reach more book lovers like you by following the podcast & leaving a rating or review on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-up-with-verdell-walker-book-reviews-book-recs/id1806407128] & Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4wUjGy4LgfVotVsGc79AUo?si=6b34aeaa5c9c4830]!

Series Spotlight: Between Earth and Sky Trilogy by Rebecca Roanhorse | Fiction, Epic Fantasy

Some stories are too good to fit into just one book. In this Series Spotlight, I’m diving into the Between Earth and Sky Trilogy by Rebecca Roanhorse — giving an overview of the series, what makes it stand out, and why I think it’s worth the commitment. Rebecca won the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Series for this trilogy, and it was so well deserved. The trilogy is comprised of 3 books set in a fantasy world called Meridian, drawing inspiration from the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas: * Black Sun: Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781534437685] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/47m5hue] * Fevered Star: Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781534437746] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4ln31sr] * Mirrored Heavens: Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/a/109791/9781534437715] | Amazon [https://amzn.to/4ujAyI7] (Using Apple Podcasts on desktop and can’t click? Copy/paste this link into your browser: https://bookshop.org/lists/series-spotlight-3-between-earth-and-sky-trilogy-by-rebecca-roanhorse [https://bookshop.org/lists/series-spotlight-3-between-earth-and-sky-trilogy-by-rebecca-roanhorse]) This episode is hosted, produced, and edited by Verdell Walker. Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You can find more details and the full license information at Audionautix Creative Commons Music [https://audionautix.com/creative-commons-music]. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Amazon. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase of any of my fiction and nonfiction book recs, at no extra cost to you!  P.S. Looking for a playful way to tend to your reading life? Join the community newsletter and receive a free The Book Up Bingo Card to add a little m ore cozy to your bookish goals and TBR pile! Sign up here: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/#bingo] CONNECT WITH THE BOOK UP Stories bring us all together, and there’s always room in my reading nook for everybody. Website: https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/ [https://thebookuppodcast.mystrikingly.com/] Instagram: @thebookuppod [https://tinyurl.com/46hvyajb] YouTube: @TheBookUpPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookUpPodcast] Substack: https://thebookuppod.substack.com/ [https://thebookuppod.substack.com/] Shop: The Book Up Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/shop/thebookup] If you'd like to support the show, please visit The Book Up on Ko-fi [https://ko-fi.com/thebookuppodcast] to give a one-time or monthly gift. And if you can’t give financially right now? Help me reach more book lovers like you by following the podcast & leaving a rating or review on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-up-with-verdell-walker-book-reviews-book-recs/id1806407128] & Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4wUjGy4LgfVotVsGc79AUo?si=6b34aeaa5c9c4830]!