‘Sapiens’ is a big picture examination of human history, exploring 70,000 years of evolution and civilisation changing developments. Taking such a macro perspective, this book can be both confronting and illuminating. I’d recommend ‘Sapiens’ for anyone seeking an engaging way to quickly take in the long sweep of history.

This is a book that takes on an incredible challenge - retelling the story of homo-sapiens. Though broadly told in chronological order, the book organises its chapters by theme. It explores how key events shaped the tale of humanity, and how in many cases, the world today continues to be influenced by these forces. Across its many chapters, topics include: the agricultural revolution, the role of money, the evolution of religion, and the convergence of capitalism, science and empire building.

Taking such a long term perspective illustrates how easy it is to look at recent events and mistakenly assume that things will continue to change predictably in a given direction, or that things are moving too slowly. A key takeaway from ’Sapiens’ is that while change can seem slow in the context of an individual lifetime, change in the last few hundred years has been incredibly fast paced. 

Sapiens is written in easy to read language and an engaging manner. I expected it to take  longer to read, but instead found myself frequently picking it up to read “just one more chapter”.  

The only downside to this book is that it was originally published in 2014. That was a less turbulent and more optimistic time than the world of March 2026. It would have been interesting to see how the author would approach the latter chapters of the book today. Along similar lines, I’ve been left wondering how some of the projections the author makes about the future of humanity and artificial life (AI, cybernetics, genetic modification) might be changed by the technological advances of the last decade.

These are small limitations however, in a book that offers a fascinating take on the history of homo-sapiens. Well worth looking out for in your library, local bookstore or e-book provider.

When a class of graduating students from the Capitol are tasked with mentoring tributes in the Hunger Games, Coryo Snow sees a chance to turn around his personal and family fortunes. This Hunger Games prequel gives readers a glimpse into the origin story of President Snow. Though arguably not as well realised as it could have been, it’s worth reading if you’re a fan of the series.

Some context…

‘The Hunger Games’ (THG) trilogy was originally released between 2008-2010. A dystopian series set in the post-America nation of Panem, the success of the books lead to movie adaptations being released between 2012-2015.

The original trilogy was something I enjoyed, though at the time I felt the writing had room for improvement. The violence was something that really stood out, and I questioned how much was actually needed to convey the brutality of the world versus how much was just there for a shock value.

That said, I am a fan of dystopian novels, and I was looking forward to returning to Panem.  So I picked up this novel with both those things in mind - my previous enjoyment that came with criticisms, combined with my overall love for the genre.

A book at its best when it sticks to the games it knows.

The premise of ‘Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ (BSS) is that a group of Capitol students, including  a future President Snow (Coryo), must mentor tributes for the tenth Hunger Games.

Coryo is assigned a wily and charismatic girl from District 12. He is at first disappointed with his assigned tribute. She is clearly not going to be capable of beating the other tributes in a direct fight. But over time Coryo comes to realise that Lucy Gray Beard might just be the longshot that helps him gain the glory and power he desires. 

The chapters dedicated to the Games and Coryo’s life in the Capitol have the same feel as the original trilogy. This part of the book is engaging in the same way the original book was. Tension is built and then released violently, over and over again until only one tribute is left.

When the second half of the story takes us to District 12, I had high hopes for it giving us deep insights into future President Snow’s psyche.  The book tries to do this by subjecting its protagonists to a series of escalating ethical dilemmas.

However, the ending didn’t feel well paced. For my mind it would have been more effective with either a shorter and more ambiguous ending, or else extending the book to give more weight to the consequences of Coryo’s choices.

Fans will enjoy it, but for me it’s another imperfect book

If you enjoyed the original trilogy, BSS is worth picking up. This is especially so if you’re planning on rereading the book or rewatching the movies. It adds more lore and detail to the world, and some of those small things were as interesting to me as the main story arc. Just be warned, this isn’t a perfect novel and absent the context of the original trilogy, you might find the conclusion unsatisfying.

‘Unruly’ examines the interplay of current trends in technology, politics and law. Emerging trends mean businesses face new risks and a world where established norms will be abandoned. Companies will need to proactively adopt a more holistic approach to managing legal, political and technological risk. This book will be of interest to general readers, but will be especially thought provoking for those in risk management or regulating the corporate sector.

‘Unruly: Fighting Back when Politics, AI, and Law Upend the Rules of Business’ by Sean West

‘Unruly’ examines the convergence of trends in technology, politics and law that are creating new risks for businesses. Where once businesses could manage risks in each of these areas as separate issues, West argues a triad of convergent risks is emerging.

 Geopolitics and technology are increasingly linked as countries seek to use the law to gain an economic and technological edge over rivals. Norms against the targeting of ‘civilians’ (businesses and individuals) are being abandoned in an era where cyberwarfare and abuse of the law are normalised as means of asserting political power.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently argued:

“Over the past two decades, a series of crises in finance, health, energy and geopolitics have laid bare the risks of extreme global integration. But more recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons, tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.”  (emphasis added)

The increasing weaponization of economic integration is called out by West in ‘Unruly’. The book was published in March 2025, yet the author foresaw many of the norm violations (at home and abroad) of the second Trump presidency. And the prediction is, there’s still potential for things to get a lot worse.

Businesses typically prefer certainty and predictability. West argues the world is not just becoming uncertain and harder to predict, it’s becoming unruly. The rule of law and established legal and political norms are not just being eroded, but completely torn up. That’s a difficult world in which to conduct business, with flow on effects for society at large due to its impacts on investment, economic growth and employment.

Lessons for business:  Rethink your approach to the world and especially how you approach risk management

One of the more alarming bits of advice is that businesses should treat legal grey zones like a give-away sign, not a stop sign. That is, they should continue to proceed, but with caution. West argues that a business that ‘stops’ to wait for the law to catch up in areas like AI, will be overtaken by competitors that simply drive on through. 

[At this point I would refer readers to my previous review of ‘The Dark Pattern’, a book which analyses some of the biggest corporate scandals in modern history. West’s ‘give way sign’ approach to legal greyzones arguably increases the risk of a company being caught up in a major legal and ethical scandal. There is definitely a balancing act, and some gambling, to be had with this approach.]

The abandoning of norms against targeting  regular citizens and businesses in geopolitical power struggles, means all businesses can potentially become combatants. Companies must plan for this scenario by examining their exposure to international and domestic political crises.

West also has an interesting take on companies adopting public positions on social issues. He argues that in a politically fractious and divisive world, it’s better for most businesses to sit on the sidelines. He cites examples of firms who have made things worse by taking a position and then flip-flopping and reversing course, ultimately pleasing no-one. West’s advice seems to be that you should only take a public position if it truly aligns to company values. In that scenario, firms must be prepared to stay the course and stick by whichever group or cause they’ve backed. 

Lastly, the book encourages businesses to take an integrated and holistic approach to how they manage risk. Having separate legal, technology and government affairs teams developing their own risk strategies doesn’t work in a world where the biggest risks emerge from the convergence of these three areas.

A business book that will also be of interest to those interested in current events

‘Unruly’ is an airport book primarily targeted at business leaders and those working in risk management. While at times I found the pandering to corporate interests a little too blatant, overall the book is an interesting and engaging read. The history lessons and predictions it contains will interest those looking for a different perspective on geopolitics and corporate regulation. Worth the quick read (or listen) if you’re prepared to brave some of the more alarming predictions for the future.

When the only apprenticeship Mort can get is with Death, mistakes are made and the fabric of reality becomes rather untidy. This sets in motion a series of hilarious events involving wizards, a princess and Death’s exploration of other career options. If you love the idea of a quick and absurd read, then look for ‘Mort’ in your bookstore or library.

‘Mort’ is the fourth book in Terry Pratchet’s Discworld series of fantasy comedies. The book’s main protagonists are Death, his adopted daughter Ysabell, servant Albert and recently recruited apprentice - Mort.

When Mort decides to override fate and spare the life of one destined for death, it sets in motion a hilarious series of events. Can Mort make things right? And what even is right in a world where Death seems more interested in a career change than debating the meaning of justice?

If you’ve read any of the other Discworld novels, you’ll know what you’re getting in to. For those who haven’t, the book is a quick and easy read filled with ridiculous characters, absurdist humour and entertaining satire. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then check out ‘Mort’ in your bookstore or local library

‘Invisible Women’ explores how missing or misused data leads to a world that fails women, often with life threatening consequences. Although this book is several years old, it still serves a useful role by identifying areas where data on women has historically been overlooked.

My first book for 2026 is ‘Invisible Women’ by Caroline Criado Perez. As someone with a keen interest in the use of data for decision making,  I’m always interested in books that examine where the weak points are in the data life cycle. 

The default male and missing women

‘Invisible Women’ highlights how research and data collection often assume a ‘default male’, which can lead to decisions being based only on what is optimal for men. This is, as shown through numerous examples in the book, rarely what is optimal for women. 

Sometimes missing data arises when, (typically male) researchers cite concerns about the cost or complexity of conducting trials and experiments that include women. In others, the lack of women in government or industry means problems impacting women are not even recognized, and hence no data exists on what may be a long standing issue.

In other cases, there appears no clear explanation for why data on gender wasn’t captured or reported on. As someone who has worked in industries with rich data, including data on gender, I was surprised to discover that many sectors didn’t collect or publish analysis with a gender split.

Perez also highlights examples of where even when data on women was available, this data was not used properly or was outright ignored.

The assumption of the ‘default male’ perspective means that without a conscious effort to include more women in public, political and corporate decision making, existing blindspots will remain.

Lessons for researchers

The two simplest lessons for researchers that emerge from this book are: 1) don’t assume the ‘default male’ or the gender neutral human will do. Women need to be part of the data set.  2) Once you’ve collected data on women, this should be included as one of the key data splits. Even if there is no difference in results, this should at least be mentioned. Do not simply lump all results into one category of ‘people’.

Sometimes less is more when persuading with data or its absence

For a book about the lack of data on women, ‘Invisible Women’ is at times a firehose  of data points and citations. As someone who values data, I appreciate the author’s diligence in bringing together so many examples to back up each of the thematic areas the book examines. 

The persuasiveness of the book might potentially have been improved on though by doing a deeper dive on some of the case studies. Examples of highly impactful policy or research proposals being passed over by grants bodies might have benefited from an in text explanation of what alternate proposals received funding instead.

A worthwhile read for anyone interested in improving data driven decision making

Overall I found this to be a broad and helpful exploration of the ways in which women may be missing from the data lifecycle. More importantly the book highlights the significant consequences for women, and society more broadly, from this invisibility. I’d recommend this book for anyone looking to improve their research or decision making, whether they are employed in the corporate, government or academic sector.

2025 - The persistence of “print” and the year of romantasy.

Another year done, and another year of reading ticked off. This year turned out to be my biggest one yet, with 25 books in total consumed.

Print reading was the main way I consumed books this year.

Most of my reading (16/25) was still reading print, either physical or digital. This surprised me since it felt like I’d listened to a LOT of books this year. While my book consumption was definitely boosted by audiobooks, there was a lot of print being read. 

I think I will also have done pretty well on the word count of ‘print’ books again. Last year was big due to  some mammoth books (Dune + ‘Remembrance of Earth’s Past’ trilogy). This year it was the Empyrean trilogy that boosted the word count. I also read fewer and shorter graphic novels, again probably boosting word count.

The year of romantasy (and romance) 

 Romance and romantasy made up the bulk of my fiction reading. Rainbow gifted me several romance and romantasy books, but it was my choice to add a couple of extras to the list in order to finish the series she started. Dystopian novels still made a showing this year, but far less than in previous years. 

In the non-fiction category, it was another mix of business books and self improvement / personal development books, including a reread (listen) of ‘Atlas of the Heart’.

As per previous years, here’s the full list of books. 

Fiction

• A Darkling Plain - Philip Reeve (audiobook)
• Icebreaker - Hannah Grace
• Eruption - Micheal Crichton (audiobook)
• Five Brothers - Penelope Douglas
• The Serpent and the Wings of Night - Carissa Broadbent
• Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas
• The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood (audiobook)
• Fourth Wing -Rebecca Yarros
• The Ashes and the Star Cursed King  - Carissa Broadband
• Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros
• I’m starting to worry about this black box of doom - Jason Pargin (audiobook)
• Starter Villain - John Scalzi
• Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros

Graphic Novels / Comics

• The Park - Oscar Zarate
• You Must take Part in Revolution - Badiucao & Melissa Chan 

Non-Fiction

• Mental Mana - Will Jonathan
• Draw to Win - Dan Roam
• Mono in a Poly World - Tazmyn Ozga
• Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke
• Sludge - Cass R Sunstein (audiobook)
• The Power of Letting Go - John Purkiss (audiobook)
• Atlas of the Heart - Brene Brown (audiobook)
• The Dark Pattern - Guido Palazzo & Ulrich Hoffrage (audiobook) 
• The Let Them Theory - Mel Robbins
• The Secret Life of Data - Aram Sinnreich & Jesse Gilbert  (audiobook) 

PREVIOUS READING LISTS

• 2024 - Things Add up (20 books)
• 2023 - Getting back in to reading (19 books)
• 2022 - getting back to books (4 books)
• 2021 - Another year of not reading much (2 books)
• 2020 - A year of not much reading (3 books)
• 2019 #bookbacklog
• 2018 #bookbacklog
• 2017 #bookbacklog
• 2016 #bookbacklog
• 2015 #bookbacklog
• 2014 year of reading
• 2013 year of reading
• 2012 year of reading

Onyx Storm is the third book in the Empyrean series, a romance-fantasy (romantasy) series that pits magic wielding dragon riders against mysterious dark magicians.  The series brings together an entertaining cast of characters in a war for the fate of Navarre.  

It’s difficult to write a spoiler-free commentary on Onyx Storm without giving away key elements of the earlier books. So for the benefit of those planning to read the full series, I’ve tried to keep all the spoilerish content in a separate section at the end of the post.

For those interested in my posts on the first two books:

1. Fourth Wing
2. Iron Flame

Spoiler Free: The Empyrean Series and Onyx Storm

The Empyrean is a romantasy (romance-fantasy) series. I’ve personally found the series to be a balanced mix of both genres, though Onyx Storm felt like it leaned more into the fantasy elements.

The romance between the protagonists is well crafted. It helps drive key elements of the plot, shape the characters, and also provides a different kind of downtime between the higher paced elements of the story.

For those more interested in the fantasy genre, the world building and lore of any single book isn’t as deep as one solely focussed on the fantasy elements. However, across the series the details of the world have been progressively built up. Now the world of Navarre is full of history, myths and living cultures. These have been built out as the fantasy plot at an individual and macro level have moved forward.

For those thinking of picking up this series, you should be aware that it contains both explicit sex scenes and graphic violence. Aside from the gore of combat, there is physical and psychological torture. 

With that said, I’ve enjoyed the series so far. While the books are relatively long, they’re not a difficult read. If you’re a fast reader or got some downtime coming up, this is a series that could be enjoyed by anyone who likes the idea of combining dragons, magic, an existential conflict and spicy romance. 

And now, the spoiler containing thoughts.

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Spoiler containing thoughts beyond. In no particular order

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The cliff-hanger finale

I’m just going to get this out of the way. There is such a thing as too much of a cliff-hanger. Just having Violet and Xaden be married (or a mystery around that) would have been a great hook. Having the aftermath of the battle be a victory that feels more like defeat would also have been a good cliff-hanger for the next book(s). But what we got - personally I feel it took away a bit from the climax of the major battle.

All the adventuring to different lands

If this doesn’t have payoffs in the later books, then it’s going to feel a lot like filler

You get a second power, and you get a second power and you get a second power

Look, at this point  any marked one has to be under suspicion of having a second signet/power. And that will surely have implications down the track. 

Multiple character perspectives

We needed this in the big battle in order to show its scope and all the world changing events going on. But I wonder if this was also setting us up for how the story may be told in the subsequent books. Or at least until Violet and Xaden are reunited.

Long distance romance… or new romances?

If we assume Violet and Xaden are physically separated until some sort of cure (redemption) is achieved for Xaden, then where does this leave us in terms of romance plots and sexy scenes? I can see this going a couple of ways. Firstly, this will all be in the form of Violet dreamwalking and encounters within their shared dreamspace. Second option, which links back to the introduction of multiple character perspectives, is that we might get to experience one or more of the other romantic sub-plots like the Imogen-Garrick one we get teased with at the end of the book. 

Final result - a solid addition to the series

Assuming there is a meaningful payoff to all the adventuring to the Isles, then this is a solid book and finishing with an epic battle never hurts. At the moment, I feel having so much upended and unknown by the cliff-hanger ending wasn’t the best choice, but overall I enjoyed the book. I just hope the next book(s) aren’t too far off as I’m not likely to reread the whole series ahead of the new books.

‘The Secret Life of Data’ (SLD) explores the increasing use of data in our day to day life and what the long term implications of this could be for our society. 

The book begins with a brief history of data, then explores the ways data is being collected and used today. This includes the role data plays as an enabler of artificial intelligence (AI) and the various data that is output by AI - such as algorithmic driven decision and insights or generative AI content.  

A focus of the book is the ways in which data, though collected for one purpose, can go on to be used for purposes the original user or collector never anticipated or intended. This is the ‘secret life of data’. Sometimes these are innocuous or even beneficial uses. But many of the examples provided - such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal - raise serious ethical questions about the extent of corporate and government algorithmic surveillance.

The book’s content is accessible to the general reader, while still offering new insights and perspectives to those familiar with data governance and ethics. It’s therefore a book I’d recommend for anyone who wants to better understand the opportunities and risks associated with the accelerating measurement and quantification of our lives.

When Charlie learns he is to  inherit his billionaire uncle’s business, it seems like the answer to all his problems. But when Charlie discovers his uncle was actually a supervillain, he inherits a whole new set of problems - and unionized dolphins is one of them. 

‘Starter Villain’ is a hilarious  adventure set in the greyzone between the real world and the absurdly improbable. It’s territory that author John Scalazi seems very comfortable working in, with ‘The Kaiju Preservation Society’ being another recent example I’ve enjoyed.

The novel follows Charlie’s introduction to the world of supervillains and his hilarious attempts to deal with the unique challenges that entails. Supported by his rather eclectic team of ‘experts’, can Charlie survive the annual supervillain conference long enough to understand why his uncle chose him for this unusual occupation?

‘Starter Villain’ is a quick, fun and easy read. It’s well paced, with a good mix of comedy, and action. There’s also plenty of not so subtle shots at the mega rich and corporate interests that operate out of sight yet shape our daily lives. 

If you’re someone who enjoys satire, absurdity and out of their depth protagonists, then ‘Starter Villain’ might be the book you;re looking for.

‘The Let Them Theory’ is about acknowledging the things you can’t control and empowering action where you can. The book applies ‘the let them theory’ to common life scenarios such as friendships, helping others and finding love. The book offers its own take on how to manage relationships, though it may be wise to supplement it with broader reading.

‘The Let Them Theory’ (LTT) has been in the ‘best sellers’ section of my local bookstores for months. It’s a book that crosses over into a couple of the genres I tend to read a lot of - ‘self help / self improvement’ and airport books. (The books you see in airport bookstores that are just the right length for reading on a short business trip).

LTT teaches that you can’t control other people and how they react to you. To try and do so is only going to lead to frustration. Instead, you should focus on what you can control - which is how you react to the other person and what you do in response to them.

The book has a good analogy for this. If you’re outdoors and a storm blows up, shouting at the sky about the weather is pointless. It’s beyond your control and all you’re going to do is get  frustrated. Instead, “let me” choose how I respond. The response could be standing in the rain and enjoying the sensation, it could be getting a raincoat  to help stay dry, or it could be going inside and doing something different.

When dealing with other people it’s often necessary to “let them” do what they’re doing or react how they’re going to react. Accept that’s what they’re going to do… then “let me” choose how I respond.

The book applies this concept to a range of situations such as:

• Dealing with stress
• Fearing other peoples opinions
• Dealing with other adult ‘tantrums’
• Chronic comparison
• Mastering adult friendships
• Motivating others to change
• Helping someone who is struggling
• Choosing the love you deserve

The book is a good reminder of the perils of letting the opinions of certain individuals be your only guide to how you should feel or act. It’s also a reminder as to why we sometimes need to be brave or make choices that at the time may feel very uncomfortable. Again, it’s about establishing your agency through “let me”.

Despite being a best seller, the book didn’t land perfectly with me. 

For starters, it felt very repetitive, especially in the early chapters. “Let them - Let Me” is a simple concept. It arguably doesn’t need (what felt like) half a dozen anecdotes or examples every time a new application of the theory is introduced. It may have been better to either shorten the book (making it much more pointed) or use those words on more of the theory or tools connected to LTT. 

As someone who has read a number of books in this style, I’m also wary of books that paint themself as the answer to all problems: ‘Follow this formulae in these situations and see amazing success - and if you don’t see success it’s because you did it wrong’. LTT feels prone to this at times, though it does acknowledge the theory needs to be applied with common sense. 

I also feel the ‘let them’ approach to dealing with other people should come with a warning label. If not used with care, it strikes me as an approach to interpersonal relationships that could end in isolation.  

LTT offers another perspective on taking control of your life when you feel beholden to the whims of others - but it should be one of many tools in your inventory. 

I’d recommend LTT to anyone looking for an additional perspective on how to process their response to stressful or overwhelming interpersonal situations. LTT isn’t perfect, but it does offer another set of tools for anyone who feels their life is being weighed down by the expectations of others. My caution would be to use this book with care and make it part of a balanced book reading diet.

A cross country road trip transporting a mysterious black box. This is not your typical job for Lyft driver Abbot. This novel takes a barely plausible premise and turns it into one of the wildest road-trip stories you’re likely to encounter. If you love conspiracy theories crossed with eccentric characters trying to survive just long enough to get their next dose of anxiety meds - book your next Lyft because this is a story for you.

‘I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom’ (‘Box of Doom’) is one of the wildest road-trip stories you’re likely to read. When Lyft driver Abbot is hired by a woman to drive her from Los Angeles to Washington DC, Abbot’s anxiety begins to rise. That feeling escalates as the mystery woman insists no questions are asked about the big black box she is transporting or the need for complete secrecy. And that’s before Abbott learns an aggressive man covered in tattoos is hunting them, desperate to get his hands on the box.

As Abbottt and the mystery woman journey across the country, they become involved in a series of misadventures. Some are harmless, some are dangerous. Unbeknown to our protagonists, all are wildly speculated on in the various internet forums where people have begun to follow their travels.

Is the mystery woman a Russian agent? Is Abbott an incel terrorist? Does the box contain an alien capable of mind control? Or does it hold the body of a young woman who went missing many years ago?

‘Box of Doom’ taps into contemporary Internet culture, conflicts and paranoia, in order to continually escalate the stakes. These forces also fuel long conversations between Abbott and his travelling companion as they travel the lonely roads of America. Many of those conversations are a commentary on the state of modern America. They are also, perhaps, a bridge to understanding between people on different sides of social-media generated outrage.

These conversations are at times lengthy, with monologues only plausible because of the road-trip scenario and the nature of Abbott’s companion. They are worthwhile though, and add an extra layer to what would otherwise be just a quirky adventure full of improbable events.

If you enjoy mystery stories, improbable adventures, or social satire - ‘Big Black Box’ is probably for you.

‘Iron Flame’ is the second book of the Empyrean romantasy series. This novel takes what worked in the first book and turns up the intensity. Dragons, political intrigue, daring escapes and epic battles are all back and mostly better. Like ‘Fourth Wing’, there’s enough action and adventure to the story that even if you aren’t into the romance, it’s still a fun read. 

As it’s difficult to share much about this novel without spoilers for book one, this is going to be a shorter post.

You can go back to my ‘Fourth Wing’ post to see my thoughts on book one.

In Iron Flame, we see the survivors of ‘Fourth Wing’ grow as they are tested by new challenges. Our protagonists are also joined by new squad mates and allies. Hopefully we’ll see these new characters developed more in future books, as at times they felt more like props than a living part of the world. That might well be the role they were introduced to play, but it would be good to see some of these characters more fully fleshed out going forward.

Like ‘Fourth Wing’, this novel concludes by sowing the seeds for the next book. It’s a cliffhanger ending of sorts, which I’m often wary of. But in ‘Iron Flame’, the main plot elements are resolved satisfactorily, so the hook for the next book doesn’t feel like an entirely cheap ending. 

I enjoyed this instalment of the series for similar reasons to why I enjoyed ‘Fourth Wing’.  The novel has a good balance of fantasy story telling mixed with some romance and sex scenes. I found it a fun and entertaining read, and I’m looking forward to reading ‘Onyx Storm’ (book three) when I have some downtime later in the year.

So who will enjoy this book, and series?

If you enjoy stories in a fantasy world and are ok with some violence (including torture) being mixed in with the romance and sex, then I’d be happy to recommend Iron Flame and its predecessor as something to pick up from your bookstore or library.

It’s my 15 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

Ok, technically it was on 30 September, but I haven’t had any new books to write up, so haven’t logged in for a while.

New book posts are coming but I’ve been busy with a course I’m doing and now that the new Battlefield game has launched, it’s going to be busier.

‘The Dark Pattern’ examines some of the largest corporate scandals of the last twenty years , illustrating the role of nine ‘dark patterns’ in shaping this misconduct. In doing so it helps those in business and who regulate it, to see the warning signs of future scandal and take corrective action. 

’The Dark Pattern’ (TDP) examines the corporate cultures and situational context that can make even good people do bad things. The authors identify nine ‘dark patterns’ that create the conditions for corporate scandal.

1. Rigid ideology - a narrow focus on a single goal.
2. Toxic leadership - particularly authoritarian leadership and a culture that punishes asking questions or disagreeing with leadership
3. Manipulative language - using euphemisms and creative expressions to disguise what’s really going on.
4. Corrupting goals - unrealistic targets that leave people feeling like they have no way to achieve them except by unethical practice.
5. Destructive incentives - compounds problem 4 by rewarding bad behaviour, such as unethically achieving the unrealistic goals.
6. Ambiguous rules - that leave too much grey zone.
7. Perceived unfairness - people are more likely to act unethically if they perceive they’ve been placed in an unfair situation.
8. Dangerous groups - covers a range of dangerous group behaviours that reinforce the negative behaviour.
9. Slippery slope - each ethical indiscretion makes the next one easier.

These factors are brought to life through case studies including Enron, Wells Fargo, Theranos, Uber, France Telecom, Boeing, Volkswagon and Foxconn.

Readers may, as I did, take issue with some of the case studies, or certain elements within them. This shouldn’t detract from the overall value of the book. The case studies help illustrate the dark patterns in practice, making it easier to spot other examples in the real world. 

The focus of TDP is on corporate scandals,  but arguably any organization is at risk. The book would arguably have been better had it included a scandal involving a government or a non-profit organisation. Absent this type of case study, it may be tempting to think that these types of scandals only occur where there is a profit motive.

Overall this is valuable and interesting book. It will appeal to people who:

• Are interested in understanding the factors that have contributed to some of the largest corporate scandals of the last twenty years
• People looking to improve the culture of their own organizations
• Regulatory policy makers, who could potentially use TDP’s nine principle to identify businesses at risk of crossing the line into illegal behaviour

If you fall into one of these categories, jump online and track down a copy.

Winning the bloody trial set by the Goddess of Death was meant to liberate Oraya and bring her a future free of fear. Now she finds herself a prisoner in her own castle, surrounded by enemies and married to the vampire who killed her father.  With her trust already broken once, does she dare enter another risky alliance in order to reclaim her empire?

‘The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King’ (ASCK) is the second book in the ‘Crowns of Nyaxia’ series.  I thoroughly enjoyed  book one, ‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night’, and so I was eager to return to the series.

Note: Just the existence of book two is clearly a spoiler to book one. If you read further I’ll assume you don’t care about book one spoilers. 

ASCK sees us return to the land of Obitraes in the wake of the Kejari tournament. Raihn, a powerful Rishan vampire, now  rules the House of Night. But his grip on power is tenuous. Raihn’s rule is dependent on an unstable alliance of untrustworthy Rishan nobles, and the questionably motivated vampires controlled by the mysterious Septimus. 

Caught up in the political machinations and power plays of the vampire households is Oraya.

Having survived the trials of the Kejari, Oraya must come to terms with her new identity as the Hiaj heir and uncover the uncomfortable secrets her father has hidden across the land. Only by doing so can she reclaim her title as ruler of the House of Night.

More political intrigue, less consistent action

ASCK has more political intrigue and machinations than the previous novel. I enjoyed this element, even though it was mostly predictable. On the flip side, I found the pacing of the action better in book one. Both books follow a similar pattern: rising action followed by  lulls in which the characters heal their wounds and the romance happens. In ASCK, the breaks were more noticeable and didn’t necessarily flow as well, even though they all had a purpose and moved other plot elements along. This unfortunately made the book feel a bit stop-start at times.

Romancing Raihn

Enemies to lovers and back to enemies was the romance formula for book one. Raihn’s betrayal of Oraya sets the scene for a repeat of this in ASCK. We follow our romantic leads as they rebuild their connection in what feels like a two steps forward one step backwards manner. As readers, we know where this is going to all end. This story element is therefore more about enjoying the journey of how our lovers eventually get there, rather than any surprises about the destination.

So who would enjoy this book?

Before picking up this book, you should note it carries a content warning for: graphic violence, violence against children, discussion of sexual assault and rape, and slavery. There is also explicit sexual content.

If you enjoyed ‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night’, you’ll want to read this book and see how Oraya’s story concludes. The pacing is different but the overall style is similar enough that if you made it through the previous novel, this book won’t be a struggle.

Overall, I enjoyed my second adventure in Obitraes and expect I’ll return for book three once I’ve ticked off more of my current backlog of books.

This month I revisited one of my favorite non-fiction books; Brene Brown’s ‘Atlas of the Heart’. The book aims to expand the reader’s emotional vocabulary, enabling them to connect better with themself and others. This is a book I’m happy to recommend to all readers, as the depth of research and breadth of coverage means everyone should find something of interest in it.

This is my second reading (technically listening this time) of ‘Atlas’. For that reason, if you’re looking for an overview of the book, I’d recommend going back to my original Tumblr post about ‘Atlas of the Heart’.

So what are some things that stuck on the second read?

Is this thing really a big deal? Before you react to something, think about will this be an issue in five minutes? Five hours? Five days? Five months? Five years? Taking this approach can give you perspective on how significant this ‘thing’ is. It’s very similar to Annie Dukes’s recommendation for beating analysis paralysis in ‘How to Decide’. In Duke’s book, the time you take to analyze and make a decision should be related to how significant the impact of the decision is. Duke adopts a similar framework of asking will this matter in .. a day? A week? A month? A year? Ten years? That answer should guide the level of effort you put into a decision.

The role of “stealth expectations” in disappointment.  These are expectations that are  unexamined, unspoken and unacknowledged. They can lead to disappointment because if we have expectations and don’t communicate them to others, we can experience disappointment when other people don’t fulfill those (uncommunicated) expectations.

Sometimes these expectations are things we aren’t consciously aware of ourselves because they are unexamined, so we aren’t even aware of what we need to communicate. If we experience disappointment, it’s therefore helpful to look at whether we have expectations that are unexamined, or that we didn’t communicate.

Near enemies.

“Near enemies are states that appear similar to the desired quality but actually undermine it. Far enemies are the opposite of what we are trying to achieve. For example, a near enemy of loving-kindness is sentimentality—similar but different. A far enemy of loving-kindness is ill will—the opposite of loving-kindness. Similarly, a near enemy of compassion is pity and a far enemy is cruelty.”

 Shame is a dangerous weapon and can be counter-productive.

“I know we all have deeply passionate and cultural beliefs, but shame and humiliation will never be effective social justice tools. They are tools of oppression. I remember reading this quote from Elie Wiesel years ago and it’s become a practice for me-even when I’m enraged or afraid: “Never allow anyone to be humiliated in your presence.”

A grounded theory of meaningful connection. This ties together the whole book in a framework for how we can build better connections. One of the elements that really stuck out for me here is the need to remain curious and be ok with being unsure or even wrong about things. That’s advice that’s helpful when it comes to the analysis and advice parts of my day job, as well as making more meaningful connections.   

I enjoyed rereading Atlas, and arguably gained new insights from engaging with the topic for a second time. I suspect this will be a book I go back to every year or two just to brush up on my emotional language skills. Atlas is therefore one of those rare books that I’d recommend to every reader or listener - its well worth the price of a copy.

‘Fourth Wing’ is a romantasy novel that feels like a mashup of ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Divergent’ with dragons and magic instead of tech. Oh, and with spicier romance. Even if romance isn’t your thing, ‘Fourth Wing’ is fun and worth reading if only to see what all the fuss is about.  

Violet Sorrengail didn’t plan on being a Rider. Her fragile body isn’t suited to the rigours of riding dragons and the ruthlessness of combat. Violet just wanted to be a Scribe, quietly studying and writing the history of her world. 

But her mother has other plans, and Violet finds herself thrust into training at Basgiath War College. Basgiath is ruthless to the (sometimes absurd) extreme. It’s a ‘survive and graduate’ or die trying kind of place. As the daughter of a feared general, Violet must not only survive the regular dangers of the academy, she must avoid being killed by enemies among the other trainees. The reward though is great - bonding with a dragon and gaining unique magical powers. Of course if you survive, you’re then sent to the frontlines of a war, so even that reward comes at a price.  

‘Fourth Wing’ is also a romance story, so there’s plenty of pages dedicated to Violet’s longing and lusting over her love interest. Oh, and dragon sex is a thing (logically) but that’s off the page so we don’t get the details on it. 

If you’re more into the fantasy elements it might be tempting to skip the romance scenes altogether. But doing so risks undermining the fantasy story because of the way Violet, her love interest and the dragons are all intertwined. So even if you’re here for the fantasy adventure - don’t skip over the romance. 

‘Fourth Wing’ is an entertaining read if you’re ok with the violence and sex.

This story has its share of violence and also some explicit sex scenes. If that’s not your thing then consider yourself warned. My other caution is this is the first book of a series. While the novel has a meaningful conclusion, there’s also a lot of unanswered questions left hanging to be addressed by future books.

If you’re ok with all that, and enjoy a spicy adventure story, then I’d recommend braving the journey that is ‘Fourth Wing’.

P.s. This review is based on the first book read  as a standalone. My views may change as I read more of the series.

P.p.s - scroll further down for spoiler containing extra thoughts on the comparison to ‘Divergent’.

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OK, it’s not quite as simple as ‘Divergent with dragons’, but it certainly gave me those sort of vibes. 

• In both stories we have a society that divides people up into castes (or roles) upon reaching a certain age.
• In both, our protagonist has grown up assuming they would be part of a peaceful/quiet group in society, but instead find themself part of the warrior group.
• Entry into the warrior group involves a dangerous activity (cross the parapet / jump off the train) that involves the risk of death. 
• Graduation is basically about surviving.
• Love interest is a more senior warrior / instructor.
• The protagonist learns that all is not as it seems with their world and leaders. They must make a choice between following orders and doing the right thing. 

Given I generally enjoyed Divergent, I’m hoping I’ll continue to enjoy the rest of this series too.

‘The Power of Letting Go’ aims to help people ‘let go’ of the distractions, limiting thoughts and pain patterns that hold them back from achieving their goals. The techniques taught in the book are based on the author’s experience with various forms of spiritualism and success in applying them is likely to depend on the reader’s willingness to surrender to these ideas. It’s a book that may work for some people, but is arguably not as universal as the author seems to think.

‘The Power of Letting Go’ (TPOLG) is a self-help book that aims to help people be happier and achieve their goals by following a four step process.

• Be present and enjoy each moment
• Let go of the thoughts that keep you stuck
• Let go of the pain that runs your life
• Surrender and tune into something far more intelligent than your brian

The book devotes chapters to each of these steps, encouraging the reader to make use of techniques such as mindfulness, transcendental meditation and reliving past experiences, in order to ‘let go’. The different practices and techniques have been included based on the author’s experience with different spiritual practices. 

An overarching theme of the book is that we are part of something greater and more intelligent than ourselves. Therefore, the logic goes, we must surrender ourselves to the universe in order to more effortlessly achieve our goals.

What did I find useful?

There were elements of the first three steps I did find useful.

• Focussing on what you want to achieve rather than an inflexible idea of how something should happen.
• Some of the breathing techniques and suggestions for clearing the mind.
• There’s also something to be said for letting go of pain that’s running your life. 

So where did this book fall down for me?

My main frustration is the idea that ‘letting go’ will magically lead to reaching goals we’ve been unable to achieve. It feels at times a lot like ‘underpants gnome’ logic’.

This is a reference to a South park episode where a group of Gnomes outline their business plan as Phase 1: Collect underpants, Phase 2: ?, Phase 3 Profit. It’s a satire of corporate planning, especially in the start-up world, but I’ve also seen it applied to other contexts.

In TPOLG, the gap is:

1. Let go,
2. ? ( magic?)
3. Goal achieved.

That’s the logic we’re presented with for most of the book, though at one point the author makes the more realistic statement that things can “become easier” to achieve if you let go.

Another challenge I have is  the anecdotes about people achieving success after letting go. The success of the author’s methods aren’t being tested in any kind of scientific manner. Instead, people who have had success with letting go recount when doing so worked for them. This comes across a bit like survivorship bias, studying only those who had success with ‘letting go’ and not comparing to those for whom the process doesn’t work. 

Plenty of books in this genre take this approach. I’d probably have less of an issue with the selective anecdotes if the book didn’t try to sell its techniques as some sort of universal and unfailing approach. 

Where ‘unfailing’ does have a qualification.

That qualification is the idea that if you don’t fully commit to letting go, you wont get results. This sets up the situation where any failure can potentially be blamed on someone not fully letting go. 

There are many aspects of life where success is linked to how fully someone commits to an action. (exercise optimally -> better fitness). But ‘letting go’ enough is highly subjective and internalised to the point it almost seems untestable.   

Closing thoughts

The book has given me things to think about, especially in terms of how past pain patterns can still be running the way we live.

How much the reader will benefit from this book though is likely to depend on ones preferred balance between a scientific versus spiritual approach to achieving the things you want. The two can potentially coexist and work together. Readers though should be aware though, this book leans more into the spiritual and faith based approach to problem solving.

‘The Handmaid’sTale’ is a dystopian story set in a world where fear and religious fervour have combined in a dangerous cocktail. The United States has fallen, replaced by a totalitarian theocracy - the Republic of Gilead. This cautionary tale highlights the human cost of autocratic governments who treat people as means to an end, and see all differences of opinion as punishable dissent.

Dystopia is one of my go-to genres. While most of the dystopia covered in my Tumblr has been oriented at a young-adult audience, I’ve read some classic 20th century dystopian works  such as ‘1984’, ‘Animal Farm’, ‘Brave New World’, ‘Neuromancer’, ‘V for Vendetta’, along with assorted Ayn Rand novels and even ‘We’ (one of the first books banned in soviet era Russia).

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ was a conspicuous absence from this list. It wasn’t a deliberate omission. A bit like ‘Neuromancer’, it was a book I knew about but hadn’t found time to read until now.  

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ checks all the boxes for a classic dystopian story.

The story is narrated by a young woman known only as Offred. Following a second civil war, the United States has been replaced by a theocratic autocracy known as the Republic of Gilead. Faced with declining birth rates due to environmental disasters and continual war, Gilead’s “commanders” have indoctrinated and enslaved young women like Offred for the sole purpose of conceiving children.

Offred is forced to live in servitude to her Commander and ultimately the state of Gilead. As the story unfolds the reader is given flashbacks to Offred’s life before the civil war, the escalating erosion of freedoms, and the events that ultimately led to her forced servitude as a handmaiden.

This is a story that draws on the full range of dystopian tropes: deprivation, oppression, terror and trauma, extreme class (and gender) divides with plenty of hypocrisy thrown in,  environmental catastrophe, a forever war, and the degradation of the individual at the hands of the state.

I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Elisabeth Moss, who plays Offred in the TV adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale. Her narration was extremely effective in bringing Gilead to life and conveying the emotional trauma of the world. 

My main criticism of the novel is that the first half felt a bit slow. It’s very focussed on Offred’s personal circumstances and drip feeding us broader information about her life before Gilead.  This may have been in part due to Atwood wanting to reduce the amount of exposition dumps (see this interesting interview). The result for me was that the story didn’t feel like it was going anywhere until the second half.

I also felt the ending of the story wasn’t as impactful as it could have been, though others may enjoy it.

If you’re interested in dystopian stories, don’t leave it as long as I did to read this book. It should also be read by anyone wanting to understand why some people are so concerned by elements of the socially and religiously motivated conservatism that is shaping current (2025) social policy in the US. Paperback versions of the novel are relatively cheap and well worth your time, or do as I did and borrow the fantastic audiobook from your library. Just get your hands on this book and soak it all in.

‘You Must Take Part in Revolution’ is a near future dystopia that follows the lives of three young people who meet during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests of 2019. It’s an engaging and at times uncomfortable story illustrated with a unique art style. This book will suit you if you want to be challenged by a dystopian story that is frighteningly plausible.

This graphic novel explores the ways in which both choice and circumstance shape not just individuals, but the world they live in. We meet the principal characters at Hong Kong’s protests, then follow the different paths their lives take in the wake of tragic events.

The novel’s backdrop is a world where China has continued on the path to becoming a technologically advanced authoritarian state. Meanwhile, the US still tries to paint itself as a beacon of democracy, but in many ways has succumbed to the kind of authoritarianism it claims to rail against.

The world as it’s portrayed in 2035 is still recognizable as our own, despite the dystopian elements. What makes the story so engaging and frightening is it paints a plausible path to this dystopian future based on current political trends.

This one of those dystopian stories where saying you “liked” or “enjoyed” it doesn’t feel right. It isn’t because the novel is bad. Rather, it’s that the experience is at times unsettling and uncomfortable. Well crafted dystopia should arguably do that. This novel gave me similar feelings to reading books like 1984 or watching Brazil.

’You Must Take Part in Revolution’ is a graphic novel that should suit anyone who wants to be swept up into its dark story for about the same time as a typical movie.

In ‘Sludge’, Cass Sunstein sets out to explore the ways in which both the government and private sector cause harm through processes that create unnecessary obstacles to people achieving their goals.

Cass Sunstein is probably best known for co-authoring ‘Nudge’, one of the most well known and influential books in behavioral economics. Where ‘Nudge’ is centred around the ways that people can be helped to make better choices, ‘Sludge’ looks at the frictions that can be put in the way of people achieving these goals. Sometimes this friction has a legitimate public policy goal. But as ‘Sludge’ illustrates with numerous examples, often this friction imposes massive costs and can cause significant harm to vulnerable groups within society. 

Key points I took away from this book:

• Sludge is the needless frictions that get in the way of people achieving what they want to do. E.g. long and complicated forms, unnecessary and inefficient queuing. 
• Sludge can sometimes be deliberate, serving as a rationing tool or a way of making it difficult for people to achieve an outcome. There may be political debate over whether making it difficult to access something is good or bad. Sludge related to obtaining an abortion is an example of this.
• Much sludge is not deliberate. It’s a byproduct of other processes or legitimate goals. In this case there should be broad support for the end goal of removing as much sludge as possible. 
• Sludge can disproportionately impact already disadvantaged communities. (e.g. complex processes for voter registration or applying for social assistance may disproportionately impact groups already at a social disadvantage.)
• Deliberate use of sludge by the private sector may in certain situations warrant regulatory scrutiny. (e.g. subscription traps where it’s easy to sign up and difficult to quit, dark patterns linked to manipulation of opt-out and opt-in, prefilling of forms.) 
• There’s big savings and potential for a massive impact on people’s lives by taking a hard line on sludge. Paperwork (physical or digital) must be scrutinised to assess if each requirement is really necessary.

‘Sludge’ felt less an academic text and more like a call to action for a crackdown on harmful frictions in people’s lives. If you’re involved in government or private sector bureaucracy, ‘Sludge’ is a short read (or listen) that will serve as an important reminder of the value of making things simple.

It’s another fantasy novel, and another winner takes all tournament. But for our protagonist, winning the tourney’s challenges is only half the battle. Can Celaena work out who is killing the contestants before she becomes the next victim? 

Celaena is an assassin. At least she was until she was captured and sent to the Salt Mines of Endovier. When the Crown Prince offers her the opportunity to win her freedom by competing to become the King’s Champion, she’s prepared to take her chances. But things like this never go smoothly. And when contestants begin being gruesomely murdered during the the dark of night, Celaena must solve the murder mystery just to keep herself alive long enough to make the competition finale. 

Along the way, Celaenea will be trained by the Captain of the Guard, ‘Chaol’, who must get her back to fighting shape after her time in the mines. This of course means spending a lot of time together… alone …and often under stress. There will be interludes and flirtation with the Crown Prince, Dorian Haviliard. And there is a mysterious foreign princess, and assorted court politics, to deal with. To survive, Celaena must navigate all this, not simply win the tourney.

This is another fun fantasy story. I’ll admit my first reaction was “another tournament story?”, coming as it did after just reading ‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night’. And while both novels centre around  a ‘winner takes all’ competition, they’re different enough to both be enjoyable. 

I enjoyed the mystery elements of the story, as Celaenea sought to uncover the source of the murders. The tournament, while entertaining, probably wouldn’t have been suspenseful enough by itself without the intrigue added by events going on around it.

I’m still  undecided on the friendship / flirtation between Celaena and the two male leads -  Chaol and Dorian. As her trainer and mentor, I can appreciate Chaol’s role in the story. While I enjoyed many of the scenes involving Dorian and Celaeana, he seemed less necessary to the plot. My hypothesis is he’s more significant to the overall series than this particular story.

Overall an enjoyable story that I’d recommend to people who like their fantasy stories with a side of flirtatious fun. 

An engaging fantasy world, plenty of action, political intrigue, and all with a side of slow building romance. ‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night’ (SWN) is an entertaining story that should have appeal beyond the romantasy genre.

Rescued as a child by the Vampire King, Oraya has grown up surrounded by vampires. As the only human in the king’s palace, she knows just how dangerous vampires can be. At first protected by the Vampire King, then taught  how to protect herself, Oraya is more at home in the vampire world than among humans. This despite the ever present threat of falling prey to their bloodlust.     

Driven by desire for the power that would make her an equal, Oraya enters the Kejari: a series of trials overseen by the Goddess of Death herself. If she can win this deathly tournament, the Goddess will grant her wish. But to get there she must not only survive the trials, but kill her vampiric rivals along the way.  That task becomes more complicated when Oraya is forced to form an alliance with Raihn, a powerful vampire from a rival clan that desires her father’s crown. Just how far can she trust Raihn? And will she have the strength to kill him when the time comes?

An engaging fantasy adventure

SWN was a story I fell in love with. For me, it struck the right balance between fantasy action, political intrigue and romance. 

Oraya’s story is a classic hero’s quest, and that’s something all fantasy lovers should be able to get on board with. Like all good quests, there is the physical quest (win the tournament, gain power from the goddess) and a character driven quest, as Oraya seeks to understand her true identity. 

The story moves at a good pace with plenty of action along the way. A multi stage tournament is a convenient mechanism for interspacing high energy action sequences with periods of relative quiet and character building.

Though the political intrigue is arguably the lightest element of the story, there was enough to keep me engaged in that mystery too. I suspect we’ll get more of it played out in the second book of this duet, which is something I’m looking forward to.

Finally we have the romance element. 

The book pitches itself as a dark romantasy. It carries a content warning for:

Violence, torture (off page), flashback of rape (consent withdrawn), self-harm, emotional abuse, slavery and references to sexual abuse)

‘Dark Romance’ is still a genre I don’t have a lot of experience with, so you may want to read other reviews if that’s your main focus. 

The romance in SWN is a slow build. As a reader, we know broadly where this part of the story is going to end up, but the exact when and how and its aftermath is still a wrapped candy to be peeled back and enjoyed as the book progresses.  Unlike ‘A Curse of Blood and Wolves , there was enough else going on with the story that I didn’t find myself frustrated by the scenes where the characters were doing little else but admiring their love interest. SWN manages to tease sufficiently throughout the book without slowing down the pace or sacrificing the other elements of the story.

So who would enjoy this book.

First off, be aware of the content warnings. I’ve not historically been a big fan of trigger warnings, but if an author is going to call out stuff up front, I think it’s worth acknowledging them.

SWN is a romance, but it’s also a fun fantasy adventure. Fantasy lovers who can enjoy being dropped into a world without needing overly detailed descriptions of how all the world works - this might still be a book for you.

I enjoyed SWN enough that I’m going to go back for the second book in the duet, and that might be the best recommendation i can give for how much I enjoyed it.

Annie Duke is a professional poker player turned business coach. Her speciality? Taking the lessons she’s learned through study, consulting and playing poker - and helping people make better decisions.

’Thinking in Bets’’ (TIB) aims to change people’s approach to decision making by encouraging them to “think in bets”. Duke argues that asking people how much they’d bet on an outcome is a sure fire way to focus them on just how confident they are about an outcome.

Thinking in bets means no longer treating outcomes as 100% the result of correct or incorrect decision making. instead, Duke encourages people to think in terms of the likelihood of outcomes occurring and the role of chance. Once you recognize what elements of an outcome are down to chance, you can make better decisions about the things you can influence. Over time small improvements in decision making can add up to better outcomes.

Last year, I read Duke’s book ’How to Decide’. (HTD), which was published two years after TIB.

Both books cover similar topics such as the role of chance in outcomes, recognizing and mitigating bias in decision making, decision making when faced with uncertainty, and tools that help us better understand future outcomes, and hence make better decisions.

TIB appears to draw more on Duke’s poker background, at least for many of the anecdotes used to illustrate different decision making principles and practices. That may make TIB more enjoyable for some readers. TIB also has good discussion on how to build groups and group environments that drive more accurate decision making.

On the other hand, ’How to Decide’’ could almost have been the directors cut /extended version of TIB. In HTD there is less emphasis on ‘thinking in bets’ and more on on the overall decision making process and how you can apply it in practice to different types of problems.

Both books have good lessons, and there’s arguably a case for reading both. If doing so, I’d recommend TIB and then HTD. The books are relatively cheap on Kindle, so reading the pair is an affordable option on that platform. But if physical books are more your thing and you can only choose one, my recommendation would be ’How to Decide’: then read ’Atomic Habits’ to help you get better at making decisions stick.

‘Five Brothers’ is a sexual mystery story set against the backdrop of a ‘rich town v poor town’ struggle. The premise: rich girl Krisjen must figure out which of the mysterious and dangerous brothers she had sex with that lonely night at the Jaeger house. Readers are warned -  ‘Five Brothers’ takes you into a dark and corrupt world.

One of the things I enjoyed about this novel was the world the author created. It’s not a nice world, but it’s one where the characters don’t feel out of place. There’s no giant slabs of exposition. Instead, the ‘rich vs poor’ divide is emphasized incrementally throughout the story. 

The novel repeatedly reminds the reader there is a war between the prosperous St Carmen (Saints) and those who live in Sanoa Bay (Swamp). Sometimes this war occurs behind the scenes via spying, manipulation and blackmail. And sometimes the conflict is more open, with the novel not shying away from graphic fight scenes and violence. The struggle to save Sanoa Bay from the wealthy developers of St Carmen is interwoven with Krisjen’s own journey to discover the mystery Jaeger and decide where her true loyalty lies.  

This was also a novel where I enjoyed that it felt like multiple stories in one. Although some might complain certain characters aren’t fleshed out enough, overall I enjoyed having the perspectives of the different brothers. Getting into the heads of each Jaeger was essential to the storytelling, even if we got to know some less well than others. (Perhaps future books in this world will explore their perspectives further?)

On the weaker side, the conclusion felt a little rushed. While breadcrumbs were being laid throughout the story, one aspect of the finale felt like it needed to be  given more time. 

So who would enjoy this book?

This was my first foray into the dark romance genre, so it’s hard for me to advise regular readers of this genre how it stacks up versus its peers.

This is a novel definitely intended for a mature audience. It carries the content warning  of “dubious consent, mentions of domestic abuse, sexual assault and discussions of suicide.” 

A quick skim of Goodreads will show a LOT of readers weren’t into this book for various reasons, but the subject matter and the age of the protagonist (18yo) seemed to be the main complaint. 

The book kept me engaged and I’d potentially read more from this author if she expanded this series beyond ‘Five Brothers’ and “Trsyt Six Venom’. If the subject matter isn’t off-putting, and you enjoy very spicy sex scenes, then this could be worth picking up.

If B-grade action movies were a book. ‘Eruption’ has a fun premise and the allure of action a plenty. But the execution lets it down in places.

’Eruption’ is a novel with a great premise. What if there was something secret and dangerous hidden on a military base close to a volcano. Now imagine a looming eruption threatens to set loose that dangerous secret?

It was this premise that got me interested in ’Eruption’ when it first came out, and why I added it to my list of audiobooks. I love volcanoes, military thrillers, action movies and conspiracy films. I’ve even been to a lot of the locations in Hawaii where the book is set. This book was made for me.

’Eruption’ was a fun read (listen), especially when I let myself simply imagine some of the sequences unfolding on the big screen. There’s plenty of scenes in here that would make for great set-pieces in a big-budget movie; people racing against the clock to make dramatic rescues, dramatic escapes from lava, exploding aircraft, boiling seas. if you like that kind of wild ride, you’ll enjoy this novel.

Perhaps because of the book’s potential though, I found myself frustrated by the execution. Things like

• Characters that we’re presumably meant to connect with or value, who don’t get properly fleshed out.
• Sub plots and side-plots and teasers for these that either don’t go anywhere or wind up being relatively inconsequential.
• Too much name dropping and technobabble in the wrong places. Yes, telling us about this or that historic volcano does add to the realism - to a point. But doing it in the middle of an action sequence throws off the pacing. Aviation aficionados will appreciate you telling them the model of helicopter when it first appears - but for the average reader it adds little to keep referring to the helicopter by its type rather than just telling us they’re in the helicopter.

Overall I still had fun with this book, but its flaws mean I’d only recommend it to those who enjoy one of the genres its trying to stretch itself across. My tip would be get it from your library or pick it up when its hit the half-price stand at your department store.

This short book offers an introduction to polyamory that’s written in a style that should make it more readable by monogamous audiences.

When Mrs Menow and I entered the world of non-monogamy, the first book I read wasn’t even about poly, but a book focussed on the problems and unrealistic expectations of monogamy. (I can’t say for sure, but the book may have been ’The Myth of Monogamy’?)

A quick search online these days will yield a lot of books about polyamory. As someone who started their poly journey a long while ago, it’s encouraging to see there’s more books out there now to help people work out if and how poly might work for them. Many of these books are written by and for poly people. ’Mono in a Poly World’ (MPW) by Tazmyn Ozga sits in its own niche as a book written by a monogamous woman who spent five years as the partner of a poly man.

MPW is a short book (~70 pages) that aims to explain the basics of polyamory from the perspective of a monogamous person. It introduces key concepts in polyamory, examines the challenges of mono-poly relationships, then discusses topics such as best practices, relationship structures and providing support for the feelings that monogamous partners can experience.

This book provides a broad sweep across a range of poly topics, but does not really deep dive into any of them. It’s a good introduction to many poly topics, but shouldn’t be all you read.

As a poly person, MPW was a good reminder that there is more than one way to ‘do poly’ and that change and compromise are often needed to make poly work, especially in a mono-poly dynamic.

Spoiler alert - mono-poly didn’t last forever for the author

In the book, Tazmyn cautions against taking the wrong message from online forums for mono people in poly relationships. As she points out, these environments tend to attract people with problems to solve or axes to grind.

By contrast, MPW as a book was generally even handed and non-judgemental about poly. Which is why the final chapter is somewhat jarring. It deals with Tazmyn’s personal mono-poly experience and the breakdown of her marriage five years after her husband declared he wanted to be poly.

Things not working out is always a possibility. It’s confronting when it is put in your face, but also necessary. For a book intended primarily for monogamous partners, its arguably important that the author shares their own story.

But by making this the final chapter, it leaves the reader with a negative outlook that undoes some of the earlier even-handedness.

Maybe I just like happy endings. Had I been editing the book I may have made this one of the opening chapters. More of a 'let me tell you my story so that hopefully you have more success - or working it quicker that you should leave’.

Alternatively, the book’s final chapter could have included experiences from other mono-poly couples that showed a broader spectrum of experiences.

Ending with Tazmyn’s story doesn’t negate the good things that come earlier in the book, but it may water them down and change the way the reader looks at them.

Wrapping up

For mono folks in a poly relationship, this book could be a useful starting point as it introduces key concepts in a style and tone that a monogamous partner is more likely to be comfortable with. MPW though is more booklet than book. It should serve as an introduction to learning about polyamorous relationships rather than an end-point. This is especially so given how the book ends.

For poly folks, MPW could serve as a reminder of how daunting poly can seem to a mono person.

Lastly, given how short the book is, I’d recommend picking it up as an e-Book (such as Kindle), where it’s much more affordably priced.

‘Icebreaker’ is a fun and at times spicy sports romance. Relive your college days (or compare fantasy to reality) as a series of incidents see hockey captain Nate and figure skater Anastacia become unlikely training partners. 

‘Icebreaker’, by Hannah Grace, is my first foray into the sports romance/erotica genre. It’s one of the books Rainbow gifted me for Christmas in an effort to broaden my reading of different genres of spicy (or romantic) stories.

A light and fun read

The novel follows the (supposedly) unlikely pairing of figure skater Anastacia, with ice-hockey captain Nate. In an enemies to lovers style story, Nate and Anastacia find themselves thrust onto the same skating rink for training. After Antasacia’s skating partner is injured in an accident, Nate is forced to pair up and help Anastacia prepare for an upcoming championship. 

But the path to love is never smooth and the journey is filled with self doubt, anxiety, good friends, and lots of drama. There’s a lot of sex and displays of both aspirational behaviour (what to do in a relationship and when it comes ot sex) and examples of what not to do.

‘Icebreaker’ is written at a level that’s easy to read, and I found myself able to fly through the pages at a fair speed. There’s no detailed scientific explanations or chapter long exposition of the lore of the world. It’s just a simple telling of a spicy but ultimately sweet romance story where the noble characters have limited flaws and the antagonist (villain?) is slowly but surely unmasked.  

Wait? What? Who is that person again?

If there’s a flaw to this book it’s the myriad of minor characters. It’s a book that would benefit from a diagram showing how everyone is connected. I appreciate this large cast provides a wide selection of characters to draw from for future books, but as the entry point to a series it was at times overwhelming. In the end I just found myself focussing on the core group of fealty dozen characters and letting the rest blend into the background.  

A  fun read for those comfortable with lots of sexual content 

Let’s get this out of the way up front. This book contains explicit descriptions of heterosexual sex. If that’s something that’s going to make you uncomfortable, then this isn’t the book for you. But if you like some sexy and spicy scenes interjected into a simple and generally fun story, then this might be one to put on your reading list. 

Reblog and tag your book lover friends for Valentine’s Day. <3

If you’re still following my Tumblr, I’m going to assume you’re a book lover given book related posts are now the main thing i share here.

‘Draw to Win’ (DTW) is an informative introduction to how to use drawing as a tool for problem solving, leadership, and teaching. 

This is another book I’d put in the category of airport business books. It’s a relatively quick read that aims to impart knowledge on a specific topic in the shortest time possible. The sort of thing designed to catch the eye of corporate travellers and be easy to read between appointments. 

As someone with an interest in visual communication, I really enjoyed this book. But DTW isn’t just for presentation geeks. It’s a fantastic introduction into how to pick up a pen and unleash your visual creativity to solve problems, inspire others and share knowledge. You might not think you can draw, but as author Dan Roam explains in this book, anyone can draw once you know the basics.

Like similar books on visual communication, DTW begins by explaining how people take in visual information. Based on the way our brains process this information, Roam explains how to use simple drawings to engage our own brain, and that of our audience. Six different types of drawing are then introduced, each accompanied by an explanation of how and where to use them.

Overall I found this a great book. I read it on Kindle and even in black and white the drawings were still engaging. (Which in itself is a point about the value of simplicity). I’d recommend this to anyone looking for new ways to improve the way they problem solve or share ideas with others.