Matt Inman

Matt Dinniman does it again with This Inevitable Ruin, the latest wild installment in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. If you've made it this far, you already know what you're in for. Pure chaotic brilliance, brutal humor, and some of the best storytelling in the LitRPG genre.

The stakes have never been higher, the challenges more insane, and somehow Carl and Princess Donut continue to be the best duo in the game. Dinniman has an uncanny ability to blend absurdity with genuine emotional depth, making you laugh one moment and wince the next.

And if you're going to read this, do yourself a favor and listen instead. Jeff Hays doesn't just narrate. He performs every voice with such skill that it feels like a full-cast production. His portrayal of each character brings the story to life in a way that makes the audiobook the definitive experience.

I have no idea how Dinniman keeps coming up with this stuff, but I hope he never stops. This series is an absolute ride, and This Inevitable Ruin might just be one of the best yet.

Everything Is Tuberculosis is one of those rare books that takes something I knew almost nothing about and completely reorients my understanding of the world. I went in barely knowing a thing about TB, and came out shocked—not just by the history, but by the persistence of a disease that should have been wiped out by now. The research is deep, the storytelling is compelling, and the message is clear: TB still thrives because it mostly affects the poor, not the powerful. If this disease hit wealthy countries the way it hits the global south, we'd have solved it decades ago. An eye-opening, frustrating, and important read. Highly recommend.

Overall, I really liked this book. Its ideas are powerful: freedom, community, what we give up for progress, and how societies shape people. It gave me a lot to think about, and I'm glad I read it.

That said, I found her writing style tough at times. Not bad, just heavy. I don't know if it's the age of the book or if I've just gotten used to more modern sci-fi, but she seems to use big words when small ones would do. I had to slow down and really focus in some spots, which took me out of the story now and then.

But even when it's a challenge, I always finish her books feeling like I gained something. This one made me reflect on how we live, what we expect from others, and what a truly “free” society might look like. It's not an easy read, but it's definitely a meaningful one.

I enjoyed The Last Murder at the End of the World for its fresh take on the classic murder mystery genre. It offered some interesting twists that kept me engaged and guessing. Definitely a worthwhile read if you're looking for something a bit different.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is one of the most original and satisfying stories I've read in a long time. The concept of living your life over and over with your memories intact feels both familiar and entirely fresh in the way it's handled here. Claire North does a fantastic job balancing the philosophical with the personal, and the writing is sharp, elegant, and surprisingly emotional.

Harry's journey never felt repetitive despite the premise, and the pacing kept me hooked throughout. It's a rare blend of science fiction, thriller, and existential reflection, all wrapped into a genuinely fun read. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys smart storytelling with depth and imagination.

I really enjoyed The Secret of Secrets. It dives into the idea of consciousness in a way that keeps you thinking while still giving you that classic Dan Brown pace and suspense. The mix of science, mystery, and philosophy works well and kept me hooked.

It feels like what you’d expect from Dan Brown, in a good way. If you’ve liked his other books, you’ll like this one too. It’s smart, fun to read, and leaves you with a lot to think about after you finish.

A friend recommended The Kill Artist to me after I finished a Dan Brown novel, but it didn’t quite live up to what I was hoping for. The writing itself is solid and well-paced, and Silva clearly knows his craft, but the story felt more like a straightforward spy thriller than the layered mystery I expected. I was looking for more intrigue and complexity, something with sharper twists or deeper secrets. Instead, it played out predictably. Not a bad read, just not the one that kept me guessing.

This book hits at the right time for me. The core idea is simple, but the way Mel explains it makes it feel practical and doable. She lays out the process clearly, and the framework really does make you pause and rethink how much energy you spend trying to manage things that are never yours to control in the first place.

I also liked that she brought in science to back up her points. It keeps the book from feeling like another self help idea floating around without any grounding. You can tell she cares about making the reader understand not just the what, but the why.

The only part that dragged a bit for me is that she repeats herself in a few places. But if you have ever watched Mel speak, you know that repetition and enthusiasm are part of her style. She is a high energy person. That energy shows up on the page too.

Overall, the idea is excellent, the book teaches the process well, and it gives you something you can use right away. It is one of those rare personal growth books where the takeaway is simple enough to remember and strong enough to actually change how you move through your day.

I quite liked the book, but the main character seemed a bit off. I can't put my finger on it, but he felt underwritten if that makes sense. The book is a classic who-done-it mystery with the twist that the “Homes” and “Watson” characters are in a different world with its challenges of being invaded by giant creatures from the deep. I know it sounds weird, but it worked in the book.

They are strangely addictive and fun. Following the challenges of Carl and his ex's sentient cat through an 18-level dungeon that would prefer to have them dead.

The writing style wasn't for me. I had to walk away from the book.

I like the author's writing. It's been a while since I've read this book, but I recall enjoying it.

I'm a big fan of Matt Haig. His books never disappoint. This book was fun and engaging, with snippets of how we should live our best lives. It's never too late to change and make a difference in your and others' lives.

I really enjoyed The Splendid and the Vile. Erik Larson does an excellent job capturing Churchill's first year as Prime Minister during the Blitz and diving into what life was like for both him and the country. Larson's writing is engaging, and he has a way of making history feel personal and alive.

The book gives a fascinating look at Churchill—not just as a leader making tough decisions but as a person, with all his quirks and flaws. You also get a sense of what it must have felt like to live through those times, with bombings happening almost daily and the constant uncertainty hanging over everyone.

That said, I liked The Devil in the White City a bit more. There's just something about the way that book combined the drama of the World's Fair with the darkness of a serial killer that hooked me a little harder. Still, The Splendid and the Vile made me want to read more about this period in history. It does a great job of pulling you into Churchill's world and showing why this was such a pivotal time for him and Britain.

If you're into well-written history with a personal touch, this one's definitely worth picking up.

Ministry of Time was good, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story had a lot of potential, with an interesting concept and some strong moments, but it felt like it started losing steam toward the end. The pacing in the final stretch was rushed, which left the conclusion feeling a bit underdeveloped.

I finished the book wanting more—not necessarily in a good way. It felt like there were threads and ideas that could've been explored further to give the story more depth and impact. That said, it wasn't a bad read overall, and there were parts I enjoyed. It just didn't fully deliver on what it seemed to promise at the start.

If you're into time-travel stories, it might be worth a read, but be prepared for an ending that doesn't feel as satisfying as it could have been.

I wanted to start a classic series this year, and Wheel of Time seems to fit the bill. But after spending time with the book, I don't think I'll continue the series. There wasn't one thing I disliked, just a bunch of small stuff.