Book Reviews – May 2026

25 May

Welcome back to SGL, friends. This month has rather been a whirlwind, hasn’t it? What with crocheting and writing in the evenings again, I didn’t read a whole lot, but I did thoroughly enjoy what I did get to read. Working through a twelve hundred page book is both enjoyable and a bit of a slow process. Let’s get to the book reviews, shall we?

Leave It To Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse (audiobook, Librivox) – originally published 1923 – Ronald Psmith travels to Blandings Castle, impersonating a poet, to aid in an outlandish plot to steal a diamond necklace. Nothing goes as intended, resulting in mistaken identities, romancing the clever Eve Halliday and ridiculous situations that PSmith must use his charm to get out of.

~For several years now, friends have told me to read Wodehouse, and somehow, I never got around to it. But when my brother-in-law started telling me about how he enjoyed this story, I knew I had to finally give it a try! So glad I did, even though next time around I do believe that I’ll read a physical copy. Wodehouse’s writing style is so different, I can’t even describe it. Some of that could be because it was written in the twenties? But it was comedic all the way through – Psmith reminded me a bit of Lord Peter Wimsey, making me want to read that series again. I did belatedly realize that it’s the fourth and final book in a series, so the sense of being expected to know characters and things right from the getgo was from that. Whoops. It was a fun story for sure, can definitely recommend for mystery, comedy readers

Shadowfell (Shadowfell #1) by Juliet Mariellier – The kingdom of Alban is a dismal place since Keldec took the throne and declared that anyone with magical abilities were to be captured and brought before him. Since her family was destroyed by his Enforcers years ago, sixteen year old Neryn is careful to hide her own canny ability – that of seeing and communicating with the Good Folk. She sets off for Shadowfell, the one place in all of Alban that she’s heard of that seeks to overthrow King Keldec’s tyrannical rule. On her journey, she’s helped by the Good Folk as well as a handsome young man named Flint, who, as time goes on, she must decide what his true motives are. As she struggles to trust her allies, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only for her own safety but also, perhaps, for all of Alban’s.

~If you’ve been around SGL a few years at least, you know that I adore this series. I’ve even given it its own post in 2018. I definitely enjoy the journey that Neryn takes, that of proving to herself and to her allies the traits that, if she’s who they say she is, that she must have. The slow reveal of who Flint really is and what his plans for her are. Sage is one of my favorite characters (side note, I really want to crochet her especially but others in this book too). The series is really clean, other than a short scene in the third book, but there’s nothing of concern in this first book of the series.

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner – Maid Marian’s world is turned upside down when she learns that Robin of Locksley died in the Crusades. She doesn’t know how she’ll continue on, but the people of Locksley town need protection. The Sheriff of Nottingham is extracting harsh taxes from the townsfolk, and has appointed a new Lord of Locksley – Guy of Gisborne. But Guy doesn’t just want to step into Robin’s role of Lord, but also as Marian’s fiancé’. Someone has to protect them — and with a cape and her sword, Maid Marian unintentionally steps into the role of Robin Hood.

~I have read this multiple times now and just love it. You fall for Marian as she struggles to adapt to life without Robin and how to please her father with what she thinks is the right thing to do. Guy of Gisborne is a well-developed character as well, though I can’t help but picture him as Richard Armitage after watching the BBC version of Robin Hood from 2006. Highly recommend but with a caution for teen readers – there’s one scene that makes me recommend reading it first. I skip over it entirely. Yes, I know it’s a young adult book, but… well, that’s just my recommendation.