Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**Re-read Dec 2025**

Still holds up.

This is very much a children's story, full of adventure and peril but ultimately a safe little fantasy story.

Very, very different vibe to the trilogy of films done by Peter Jackson.

It's light and whimsical, and the writing is beautifully simple. The characters are mostly wholesome, and the way the dwarves' feelings towards Bilbo develop into great respect is a wonderful journey.

There are some references to the darker world outside of this story, but it's held at length here so that none of that darkness seeps into this tale. Still, there's very clear sides for good and for evil, with strong themes of power and corruption as expected from a Tolkien story.

The dwarves aren't easily differentiated here (though I'm proud to say I CAN, in fact, remember all their names now) aside from poor fat Bombur, but because of this it emphasises their togetherness. It hammers home that they share everything - goals, dreams, hopes and feelings. Thorin is more humble here than in the films, and its easy to develop affection for him as the leader of the company.

Gandalf is definitely a loose unit, but when has he not been? It's just much clearer here that, while he's involved in the small happenings of this crew, he also has bigger, more important responsibilities that interfere every now and then.

Every read of a Tolkien book will give you more context, and more understanding of the world and its people. I'll never tire of reading his works.

Highly recommend. Obviously!


**Original Review, 2013**
I re-read this back in 2012 to coincide with the release of the films and I loved it just as much.

It's a wonderful, light story with some great characters. The hobbits are such unique little creatures, and the contrast between Bilbo and the dwarves makes for a lot of fun.

Gandalf is a bit of a question mark in this one, displaying highly irresponsible behaviours, but hey, that's what wizards are famous for, right? Also, he wanders off a bit. But the dwarves! I'll never remember their names, but if you're familiar with the films it'll help put some faces to names.

I read this after the LOTR trilogy, so it's quite interesting to see how this light adventure story gave birth to the action-packed darkness of the following three books. This book still has a little darkness, but it's more about finding your sense of adventure, and getting out of your comfort zone and enjoying life.

I'm sure this book doesn't need my recommendation this late in the game, but it has it all the same. Just don't ask me whether I prefer the book or the film(s) because I have no idea how to answer that loaded question.

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Review: 2025 on Goodreads

2025 on Goodreads by Various
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

GR Reading Challenge: 142/120
Pages read: 43, 862

Breakdown of what I read:
Novels: 87
Graphic Novels: 39
Short Stories/Novellas: 6
Manga: 4
DNFs: 6

Formats I read:
Physical: 82
Digital: 29
Audio: 31

TOP 5 READS OF 2025:
You Are Not Your Limits by Javeno McLean (non-fiction, motivation)
The Core by Peter V. Brett (dark fantasy/horror)
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman (graphic novel, biography)
The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah (Arabian fantasy)
The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus (graphic novel, horror)



Breakdown of ratings:
5 star: 5
4 star: 60
3 star: 53
2 star: 18
1 star: 6

Thoughts on my ratings:
I found this year I was really stingy with the 5 stars - I read a lot of really good books, but most just didn't make it into that, 'will be thinking about and wanting to re-read' category. Both The Core and The Ashfire King were expected 5 star reads, as I've read and loved previous books in both series. I expected Javeno's book to be a good read as I love watching his videos on Instagram, but I didn't expect it to blow me away as much as it did. On the other hand, I expected Maus to be good as I've heard so much about it. The Autumnal was recommended as a great horror graphic novel and it was, but being months since I've read it, I'm surprised it got 5 stars from me as I've forgotten it a bit. There are other graphic novels I've read that have stuck with me more.

There are also quite a few graphic novels not on my 'read' list at all, as I read the series in singles which I no longer record on GR (waaaay too much work) and I keep forgetting to rate the volumes as they come out. In this regard, Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon was a standout, 5 star read for me that I'll hopefully get around to adding and reviewing next year.

On the other hand, I was quite generous with my lower ratings this year. I had 6 DNFs yet only three were given 1 star. The other three I rated based on the potential of the story, rather than my bored-ness of it. I can recognise that, while something may not be interesting enough for me to continue with, there is a potential that others with more patience may really enjoy these books. This was kind of a theme for me this year, and I feel in general that I was a bit more generous. I'm trying to think more about how others might feel about a book before tearing it to shreds with my own thoughts and feelings. That said ...

Worst books of 2025 (excluding DNFs):
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer
Colliders by Steve Foley
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Original Motion Picture Special Edition: 35th Anniversary by Peter Laird
Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
Rose in Chains by Julie Soto



Let's just say I will be very glad when the romantasy trend dies down.

General Thoughts
2025 was a bit of a soft year for me. Not a lot of books really stood out, but I also read a lot more graphic novels and comics this year so it was an interesting mix. I don't think I read as much fantasy this year as I normally do, and I really find myself craving good books in the genre at the moment.

I was heavily let down by the surge of romantasy books, as I don't like explicit sex scenes in my fantasy, and so many new fantasy books coming out seem to be written purely so that they can include graphic sex scenes. Thanks to this, though, it did see me return to crime and thrillers. I am still really enjoying Japanese detective novels, and have found a few more books/series in the genre that I want to read in 2026.

I also tried to branch out a little bit in my reading. I read books that have been sitting on my shelf for a while (The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough was an unexpected delight) and at the start of December I bought a mystery box of fiction titles and tried to read as many as possible before Christmas (I read 6 in three weeks among other reads- not bad!). The box includes a variety of genres so I'm looking forward to attempting the rest throughout 2026.

I played a lot more video games this year (welcome to my life, Stardew Valley) and listened to more podcasts instead of audio, so my reading did take a hit there. Still, I would find myself craving reading if I did too much non-reading, so that was an enjoyable experience. I felt a little bit of a slump just due to the lack of 5-star reads and good fantasy, but it did mean I turned more to graphic novels where I found some real gems.

2025 was an average reading year, but it's given me the motivation to branch out a bit more and maybe work more challenges in so I can broaden my reading even more. I enjoyed using NetGalley to find new books, but also read a few more on Kindle this year, where 'shopping' for books on Kindle Unlimited added a new element of fun.

I would have liked to finish the year on a round 150 reads, but that gives me a fresh goal for next year.

Away we go!

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Review: The Cheerleader

The Cheerleader by Marina Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by Rebecca LaChance
Presented by Dreamscape Media

This one hooked me pretty well!

It's a fun little Southern mystery about a dead cheerleader and who had reason to kill her. Cue drama.

There was plenty going on behind the scenes, so we get the slow unravel, courtesy of her former best friend and a nosy journalist who team up to get to the bottom of things.

There is some interesting insight into the world of professional sport/cheerleading, but ultimately this is all about the drama. We get pages from Jentry Rae's diary leaking some clues, but we also get unreliable details from ex-bestie Shaunette, who sometimes seems to clear things up but at other times muddies the water.

This was a great mystery, and an easy listen. The narrator does a decent job telling the story, though at times the voices do sound a little too similar and it can be hard to differentiate between who said what. But her voice was lively enough and conveyed the story in an interesting manner.

I'd happily recommend this to crime fans who like a side of drama, and the audio is an easy listen.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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Review: Queenie

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A rather insightful train wreck story, with some important themes written with a great balance of comedy and heart.

Queenie is a chaotic black woman being undermined by everyone around her. She's 'too -' everything - too loud, too bold, too sensitive, too ... HER.

Now if that doesn't resonate, this book might not be the one for you.

While I can't relate to Queenie's Jamaican-British heritage in any way, I can relate to the experience of people trying to silence you because you make them uncomfortable.

Sure, Queenie doesn't respond the best to some situations - making for some great comedic moments, as well as some more tragic results - but she is constantly undermined and subjected to racism and sexism, both blatant and more subtle. I felt for her and what she was experiencing, and I was glad there were characters who loved her exactly as she was anyway.

This is not a story about fitting in. This is a story about being loud and (eventually) proud; of owning who you are, even if there are some problematic behaviours while you figure out how to do that. There's a respect for mental health, and this book raises some interesting topics around it.

There's no guidebook to life, and Queenie is figuring it all out the best way she can. I loved that, even if it didn't always go Queenie's way. This book understands the messiness of life, and treats it with respect, humour, and unconditional love.

The writing finds a great blend of seriousness while still remaining comedic; it raises multiple topics and treats them with respect and insight, yet still finds a way to keep things lighthearted and amusing.

I really enjoyed reading this one as it gave me a better understanding of racial challenges as well as just a fun time watching this human trainwreck from a safe distance. It's easy to cringe and judge some of her decisions, but ultimately Queenie is a character you will root for and embrace.

This was Book 4 of my Advent Calendar Challenge

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Review: The Crustacean

The Crustacean by Jang Jinyeong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Narrated by Jesse Baek
Presented by Octopus Audio

A strange book, that's mostly kind of dull until you get into the secrets.

It follows a lonely teenager as she seeks attention in many destructive ways, but without the context it's quite hard to like the protagonist. I guess that's probably the point.

This is a rather short story, about innocence and its destruction. It's not really long enough to be clever and memorable, but it raises some interesting ideas about the fragility and impressionability of youth.

The narrator does a decent job, but the voice didn't feel quite right to me. It was easy enough to listen to, but there were strange inflections here and there, with a few awkward pauses and emphases. I'd happily give this narrator another chance, though.

It was an average sort of story for me, but a full length novel of a similar idea would be rather interesting from this perspective.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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Review: V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I get why this is considered a masterpiece.

Some elements of it were a little too hard to make out and the art style, while perfect for the gritty story, wasn't entirely appealing to me.

Still, an absolutely brilliant read that I highly recommend.

It's a dystopian future where people are constantly watched and controlled - a la 1984. V is an anarchist, rebelling against the system with plots and bombs. He rescues a young girl, allowing her a glimpse behind the curtain - thus giving us access as the reader.

There's a rather large cast of characters, which can be confusing at times, and the story can sometimes be so compelling that you forget to take in the intricate details of each panel. Which can be quite detrimental, as the art is used brilliantly to tell the story in its own subtle way.

There's a reason so much of what Alan Moore writes becomes iconic - he uses the medium brilliantly, making sure both words and visuals complement and enhance the reading experience.

Essential reading for fans of George Orwell's 1984, and for graphic novel fans in general.

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Review: How to Kill Your Biggest Fan

How to Kill Your Biggest Fan by Helen Blair
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by Susie Riddell
Presented by Bolinda Audio

This was really fun! A great, easy listen.

Hazel was such a conflicting character - I definitely went through a range of emotions towards her!

Highly recommend.

Hazel is a successful author who hates people. When she receives some disturbing fan mail, it sends her on a quest of sorts, to root out the stalker and turn it into her next hit.

Honestly, Hazel was such an interesting protagonist. You really go through all kinds of emotions where you dislike a lot about her immediately, but then some aspects win you over, only to then be disappointed again in something she says or does.

At the same time, there's an aspect of fun in watching the wrecks she makes, and seeing her struggle as a consequence.

This is light and zippy, but it has some darker themes too that are worth consideration. There's a feministic streak that will have women onside, and will allow for deeper reflection beyond Hazel's antics.

A lighthearted story, but certainly not lacking depth.

The narrator did a great job differentiating between characters, and used appropriate tones without any awful long pauses. I'd happily listen to this narrator again.

All in all, a fun audio diversion for cosy crime fans.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

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