Booklog 86/2025: Adrian Tchaikovsky: City of Last Chances – Tyrant Philosophers #1 – Audiobook

Audiobook narrated by David Thorpe

The city of Ilmar is the main character in this book. Occupied by the heavy-handed Palleseen, its wretched poor and its seedy underworld struggle to survive. And next to the city is the Anchorwood, a primeval grove of trees that becomes a portal to other worlds when the moon is full. There’s an ensemble cast, a poverty-stricken priest, an innkeeper with two hidden cellars, a sorcerous pawnbroker and a pair of students with rebellion on their mind, but ultimately no single character comes to the fore. This is the city’s story.

Booklog 87/2025: Jilly Cooper: Rivals – Rutshire Chronicles #2 – Audiobook

Audiobook narrated by Georgia Tennant

I read this many years ago and then recently watched the TV series with David Tennant and Aidan Turner, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  When Georgia Tennant won the Best Audiobook, Romance category, at the 2025 Speakies' I thought I'd give it a listen, and I'm so glad I did. She reads it beautifully, getting all the voices pitch perfect. The story is set in Jilly Cooper's Rutshire in the 1980s, and features Rupert Campbell-Black who first appeared in Riders, Tony Baddingham, owner of Corinium TV, and Declan O'Hara, popular TV journalist. Rupert, a confirmed womaniser, is much more sympathetic that in his Riders incarnation, though just as hot-headed. Baddingham is the antagonist here and when Declan walks out of his contract (or is pushed out) Rupert, Declan and a host of Rutshire characters put in a bid for Corinium's franchise. In the process, Rupert has several affairs and finally falls in love. It's a saucy romp. Jilly Cooper doesn't hold back on the sex, but ultimately her characters shine through. Some characters come through unscathed, others get their (very enjoyable) comeuppance. Though it got the 'Speakie' for best romance, this is not just a romance. There's plenty of intrigue, too. Highly recommended.

Booklog 88/2025: Shawn Wyatt: How to be a Farmer in a Fantasy World – Audiobook

Audiobook Narrated by Ryan Kennard Burke

I should have been pickier before buying this, but it was part of an Audible Twofer deal. Clueless Drake decides to become a farmer without knowing anything about farming. I gave up at Chapter five. By that time he’d bought lettuce and cucumber seeds for planting (so it’s spring?) and picked ripe blackberries – an autumn fruit. And not much else had happened.

Booklog 89/2025: Jodi Taylor: The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal – Audiobook

Re-read via Audible. Audiobook Narrated by Zara Ramm

Hugely enjoyable revisit via audible recounting the origins of Smallhope and Pennyroyal, recovery agents extraordinaire. Beautifully read by Zara Ramm.

Original review of the Kindle version: This is the origin story of Lady Amelia Smallhope and Pennyroyal, butler of many talents. When Millie Smallhope's brother George marries a fortune hunter and her family falls apart, she's shuffled off to a finishing school. Trying to get her diamonds back from her sister-in-law, she comes nose to nose with a burglar who turns out to be much better at thievery than she is, and she ends up throwing her lot in with him - Pennyroyal - who just happens to have a time-travelling pod, and be a product of Butler school, though Millie suspects he learned all he knows in the nick. The two embark on a career as bounty hunters - err - recovery agents - and we follow their exploits, including where their story intersects with the St Mary's crew of disaster-magnet historians, and the Time Police, especially Team Weird. This is very engaging, and I stayed up far too late into the night because I couldn't put it down. Shades of Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin with a time pod.