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readingrogue.bsky.social
Arina
@readingrogue.bsky.social
1.2K followers 400 following 840 posts
SFF book reviewer at https://queensbookasylum.com and https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com. SPFBO judge. Gobbler of space murder mysteries, morally-gray rogues and snarky AI.

Contacts & more: https://linktr.ee/thereadingrogue
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readingrogue.bsky.social
With the paperback release of "Paved with Good Intentions" this year, I now have the full set ❤️ (I'll pretend I don't see the non-matching spines)
A row of five books showing off their spines on a shelf, with the titles Priest of Bones, Priest of Lies, Priest of Gallows, Priest of Crowns, and Paved with Good Intentions. This is the War for the Rose Throne series by Peter McLean.
January 21, 2026 at 1:32 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
You both put mine to shame!
A humble shelf of ten science fiction paperback books from the "SF Masterworks" series from Gollancz, all with distinctive yellow spines and the black SF logo. The visible titles and authors from right to left are: A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. Dr Bloodmoney by Philip K. Dick. The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke. Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells. A Maze of Death by Philip K. Dick. Jirel of Joiry by C.L. Moore.
January 17, 2026 at 8:54 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Morning Womble! As the last of my 12 friends 12 books, I am reading Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau
Picture of an ereader with the book cover for "Dreams of the Dying" by Nicolas Lietzau. The cover art depicts a central figure above a body which is lying on a stone slab, surrounded by several spectral and distressed figures, conveying themes of psychological horror and dark fantasy. They are all standing against a ornamented, gothic, crypt-like background.
December 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
I got mine in the new very cool Gollancz editions with the sad caveat that only the first two have been released in those
Book cover for Imaro by Charles R. Saunders. It features an warrior wearing scaled armor and holding a weapon, against a vibrant red and pinkish background with ankara patterns. It has a quote from Nnedi Okorafor saying: "Charles Saunders was a trailblazer".
December 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
I have... Surrendered to the kindle girlie trend and honestly? I really fucking like it, I don't care
The back of a black e-reader with a transparent cover, inside which are five colorful, book-themed stickers. The stickers shown include: A "Slow Readers Book Club" sticker with an hourglass. A sticker with text "Hello I'm probably reading Fantasy!", styled like a name tag. A sticker with text "Thinking of what to read next...", in a thought speech bubble. A "Death by book hangover" sticker featuring a skeleton reading in cozy clothes and holding a tea mug. A sticker showing a book on fire with the text "Read banned books".
December 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Good Sunday to you Womble (especially as tomorrow we have a bank holiday here). I'm currently making me way through a recommended book, The Hunters by David Wragg
An image of The Hunters by David Wragg. The cover art features several illustrated fantasy characters in black and white, including a central female character holding a crossbow and a blade, protecting a teenager. The tagline reads: "A violent past won't stay buried."
December 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
finishing The Silverblood Promise and The Blackfire Blade in quick succession and realizing there's no next book yet
A close-up image of Kermit the Frog from the chest up, looking out a window that is covered in raindrops. The background is blurred and dark, and Kermit appears to be in a melancholic or contemplative mood.
November 26, 2025 at 10:58 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Rode a burst of productivity yesterday to tidy up my bookshelf. Found out:

1) Shelves are just deep enough to triple stack the good old uk paperback.

2) I now need a few raisers to actually see the books in the back.

3) I'm able to not obsess about having a system and have instead a semi-system.
A black square bookshelf with multiple shelves filled with a collection of books, graphic novels, and a few small decorative items. Some of the visible authors include Stephen King, Bernard Cornwell, Tasha Suri, Rob J. Hayes, Mark Lawrence, Rick Riordan, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Premee Mohamed, Juliet Marillier, and a Russian copy of Yaroslav Barsukov's Tower of Mud and Straw.
November 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Reading for GdM today is The Silverblood Promise by James Logan and I'm enjoying the beginning very much
The paperback of "The Silverblood Promise" by James Logan, the first book in "The Last Legacy" series. The cover art depicts two figures, one with a sword and a long cape, standing on a house roof beside a stone spire overlooking a fantastical city of large, domed buildings and other spires under a red sky. The title is in large white letters, with a quote from Scott Lynch at the top.
November 8, 2025 at 1:18 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
When you're so used to the tiny yet mighty mass market you forgot how big paperback can actually get
A close-up shot of "The Works of Vermin" by Hiron Ennes. The cover is dark with a central, circular design of a very leggy worm. The title, "The Works of Vermin," is written in a stylized font within it. The cover is decorated with intricate, colorful patterns of red, orange, and yellow, resembling flowers and abstract biological forms. A close-up shot of "The Works of Vermin" by Hiron Ennes opened and slightly ajar. The right page has the title "A Gentleman of the Void". The left page is partially visible with some text.
November 4, 2025 at 8:14 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Night, Womble (I almost missed gushing about my current read hour)! I'm near finishing an arc of When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee
Cover for "When They Burned the Butterfly" by Wen-yi Lee. The image shows a woman's face partially obscured by a red, ornate pattern in the shape of a butterfly's wing on the left side. A flame is visible near her chin, and a butterfly is resting on her right hand.
November 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
When you preorder a cool book AND you get cool art for it ❤️
Four large and one smaller print of illustrations featuring characters from Marvellous Michael Anson's upcoming Yoruba-inspired fantasy novel, Firstborn of the Sun. The prints are fanned out on a wooden surface. Two bookmarks are also shown, quoting: "Us against the world. Till the sun falls from the sky. Hand to hand we burn the same."
November 1, 2025 at 2:10 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Morning Womble! At @fantasticphil.bsky.social's recommendation, I'm reading the iconic The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
A photograph of the book The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. The cover shows a small white cabin, surrounded by tall trees with hanging moss against a red-orange sky and dark fog. A quote from Stephen King reads, “You’re in for a treat. The Reformatory is one of those books you can’t put down. Tananarive Due hit it out of the park.”
October 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
the real real answers is that I am in love with her
Photo of Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf by C. L. Clark. The cover art features Ambessa, a frightening (complimentary), powerful woman with dark skin and curly hair, wearing a red cloak and surrounded by swirling red flames. In the background are tall, stylized city structures under a cloudy sky.
October 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Night, Womble! I'm getting into the Halloween spirit by reading a sapphic vampire romance
Black-and-white book cover for The Rising Dark by Celia Thorn. The cover depicts two women standing close together in an intimate pose in a shadowy urban alley. One woman, with long hair in a ponytail, leans in towards the other and touches her face. She holds a sword between them. The title text “THE RISING DARK” appears at the bottom.
October 12, 2025 at 7:56 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Got my 12 and am ready to start reading come January! Thanks to everyone who suggested a book 🙂
A graphic titled “12 Book Challenge — 12 friends, 12 books, 12 months” with a floral line drawing in the background. The image shows 12 book covers arranged in a 3x4 grid, each paired with a reader’s name and bluesky handle. Top row (left to right): • Spark of the Divine by Louise Holland — chosen by Esmay (@esmayrosalyne). • The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton — chosen by Jodie (@wsbookclub). • The Warden by Daniel M. Ford — chosen by Iast (@iast). • Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley — chosen by Lauren (@sunsoar25). Middle row (left to right): 5. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio — chosen by Shazzie (@readeratwork). 6. Clear by Carys Davies — chosen by Michael (@trackofwords). 7. Metal from Heaven by August Clarke — chosen by Kerry (@devildauta). 8. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix — chosen by Timy (@queensbookasylum). Bottom row (left to right): 9. But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo — chosen by Louise (@foxesfairytales). 10. Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman — chosen by Roseanna (@chloroformtea). 11. Undead Folk by Katherine Silva — chosen by Steve (@stevewestenra). 12. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson — chosen by Adrian (@adrianharley). At the bottom, text reads “template: @lucidalumina.”
October 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Continuing my journey of buying a book in the/one of official language/s of every country I've visited (and super regretful I neglected to do so when in Dubai and Bali and may never have the chance again).

BUT! This one caught my eye at the bookstore. Anyone heard of it?
Cover for Bruno Puelles' Los Secretos del Hotel Jardìn de Odette. It shows 5 people, each very different from one another, standing in a hotel lobby that's richly decorated and built.
October 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Morning Womble! Hope you're good! I'm reading The Door on the Sea by Caskey Russell, which is an epic fantasy inspired by Tlingit culture and myth. The lore is fantastic and the narrative style renders the "epic" in epic fantasy beautifully
A kindle displaying a cover for Caskey Russell's The Door on the Sea. It features Tlingit imagery, with a crow, an eagle, fish, and the colorful and beautiful crafts of this indigenous culture. The inagery brings to mind carved totem.
October 5, 2025 at 11:19 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Ok book people! I already have some recs from last year that didn't make this year's card, and since it may require some preemptive library holds, I'm asking now. Preference is SFFH but I am open to expanding horizons.

What's a book you've read this year that you absolutely recommend?
Graphic for 12 friends 12 books challenge. It depicts 12 book covers, 8 of them just empty Canva frames. The not empty ones show the book covers for Spark of the Divine by Louise Holland, The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton, The Warden by Daniel M. Ford, Dead Things Are Closer than They Appear by Robin Wasley, and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
September 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
when you add items to your Etsy cart then that "the creator has offered you a 10% discount voucher" pops up
Morty from Rick and Morty doing a finger gun and saying "You son of a bitch, I'm in"
September 16, 2025 at 9:21 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
See y'all in October 2026!
Screenshot of the confirmation email for ticket booking for FantasyCon Glasgow in 2026. It reads: "Thank you for booking a ticket for Fantasycon 2026, we look forward to seeing you there!" with a form link to apply for programming participation.
September 16, 2025 at 6:24 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Morning Womble! Hope you're well. I just started The Sword of Kaigen for SPFBO's Champions League, after finishing an ARC of Ringlander: Fallen Shards
Cover for M.L. Wang's The Sword of Kaigen. A Kimono-wearing swordsman (swordswoman? I haven't finished the book yet) stands tall on a rocky cliff, overlooking the ocean and a stormy sky. Cover for Michael S. Jackson's Ringlander: Fallen Shards. Amidst a fall landscape and a gigantic crystal tower in the background, a girl looks back at the reader with a fierce look. Behind her, a humanoid being called a Bohr, with features like a bull.
September 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
Nyx Publishing is coming out with one in October!
Cover for The Rising Dark by Celia Thorn. In tones of dark red, white and black, two women embrace, one of them blond and tall and holding a sword, the other brunette and shorter and laying her hand on the other's chest.
September 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
readingrogue.bsky.social
How can you say you can't do anything too artsy to my face when you gifted me this masterpiece???
A vibrant, framed piece of art featuring a pixelated rocket ship in space. The rocket is primarily red, orange, blue, purple and green, with a red flame, and is set against a dark purple background with stars and a planet. The frame is made of alternating squares of black, light purple, pink, and silver glitter. The rocket is made in beads.
September 2, 2025 at 9:42 AM
readingrogue.bsky.social
update: it's now saved and gorgeous 😭🙏
Paperback of Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson's The Principle of Moments, depicting two men standing proud, one behind the other. The man on the back looks fierce and proud, wearing a cape and looking like some sci-fi magician or something. The one in front stands tall and gentle, holding a sword with both hands (I am ready for them to fall in love). In the background, a fragmenting planet and a city in dusk.
August 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM