Book Review | Run Walk Crawl: Getting Fit In My Forties by Tim Lebbon

Run Walk Crawl: Getting Fit In My Forties is a nonfiction book by Tim Lebbon.

At forty-one I was overweight and unfit. As I turned 50 I was thirty pounds lighter, having spent my fifth decade training for, and racing multiple Ironmans, marathons, and other crazy adventures. This account of that fitness journey through my forties includes broken bones, severe chafing, regular cursing, rubber and lycra, an element of masochism ... and cake.

From New York Times-bestselling writer Tim Lebbon comes his first non-fiction book, charting his fitness journey through his forties––funny, hopefully inspiring, brutally honest, this is a book for anyone trying to get and stay fit, at whatever age!

Run Walk Crawl: Getting Fit In My Forties is written by horror author Tim Lebbon. Interestingly, Run Walk Crawl isn't the first running memoir I've read by an author in the horror community. Back in 2014 I read (and enjoyed) Chasing the Dragon: Running to Get High by Mark Matthews. I love reading running books - especially memoir style - so I was excited to curl up and read about Tim Lebbon's fitness journey.

Run Walk Crawl is about more than just running. Since Tim Lebbon is an Ironman - the focus is on swimming, running, and biking. I loved that. I'm not very familiar with triathlon swimming, and I'm certain now I want to keep it that way! The washing machine of kicks and punches sounds pretty terrible to me.

This isn't a training book or a diet book so it's not one to pick up if you are looking for guidance or training plans on how to get fit in your forties (although you may get inspired). It's much more of a memoir style book with Lebbon walking the reader through his journey to get fit through his forties. If you love reading this style of book from athletes (like I do!), this is a great one to pick up. Lebbon is down to earth and perfectly touches on the best way to get fit - finding the thing you love that makes you move.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★
4/5 stars

Book Review | Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton

Feral Creatures is the second book in the Hollow Kingdom series by Kira Jane Buxton.

 

In this stunning follow-up to Hollow Kingdom, the animal kingdom's "favorite apocalyptic hero"is back with a renewed sense of hope for humanity, ready to take on a world ravaged by a viral pandemic (Helen Macdonald).

Once upon an apocalypse, there lived an obscenely handsome American crow named S.T. . . .
 
When the world last checked-in with its favorite Cheeto addict, the planet had been overrun by flesh-hungry beasts, and nature had started re-claiming her territory from humankind. S.T., the intrepid crow, alongside his bloodhound-bestie Dennis, had set about saving pets that had become trapped in their homes after humanity went the way of the dodo.
 
That is, dear reader, until S.T. stumbled upon something so rare—and so precious—that he vowed to do everything in his power to safeguard what could, quite literally, be humanity's last hope for survival. But in a wild world plagued by prejudiced animals, feather-raising environments, new threats so terrifying they make zombies look like baby bunnies, and a horrendous dearth of cheesy snacks, what's a crow to do?
 
Why, wing it on another big-hearted, death-defying adventure, that's what! Joined by a fabulous new cast of animal characters, S.T. faces many new challenges plus his biggest one yet: parenthood.

I laughed, I cried, I fell in love.

Told through the POV of animals in a post-apocalypse trying to save the last human on Earth, Feral Creatures was an absolute joy to read.

Feral Creatures is fantasy, scifi, and horror all rolled into one. It's a rare and beautiful book. The first book in the series Hollow Kingdom was one of my favorite books of 2019, and I have zero doubts Feral Creatures will be in my top books of the year list this year. (I have such a book hangover now!)

If you haven't read Hollow Kingdom, I highly, highly recommend you pick that one up and continue on with Feral Creatures. This series is such a gift!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5 stars

Review copy provided by publisher

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Recent Updates and Currently Reading | August 8

Hi all! I'm been so long since I've posted an update! I'm not even going to attempt to catch up.

Did you see the winners and nominees in the Ladies of Horror Fiction Awards? So many amazing books!

My kids go back to school this week, and it's an absolute nightmare out there. Please stay as safe as you can. 🙏

Posted Last Week

Book Review | Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - Inheriting Her Ghosts turned out to be such a comfort read for me.

Finished Reading

Feral Creatures (Hollow Kingdom #2) by Kira Jane Buxton - I loved this book so much. Stay tuned for my review tomorrow.

Currently Reading

Dragon Mage (Rivenworld #1) by M.L. Spencer - I'm listening to Dragon Mage on audio, and I'm obsessed. It has such a classic fantasy feel to it.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers - I started reading this last night. Everything Becky Chambers writes is a delight.

Added to the TBR

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould - I've very excited about this YA horror debut.

Billy Summers by Stephen King - Constant Reader.

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Book Review | Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper

Inheriting Her Ghosts is a horror novella by S.H. Cooper.

Inheritance often comes with strings attached, but rarely are they as tangled as those hanging over High Hearth.

When Eudora Fellowes learns she's the sole heir of her estranged great-aunt's seaside manor, she believes it will be the peaceful escape she's longed for. What awaits, however, is a dark legacy shrouded in half a century of secrets, and it doesn't take long before Eudora realizes she's not the only one to call High Hearth home.

I love reading books by S.H. Cooper.

I'm not always a fan of Gothic stories, but Cooper's writing style works so well for me in Inheriting Her Ghosts. This book is filled with ghosts, dogs, and a strong woman MC among other things, but that's really all I need.

Inheriting Her Ghosts turned out to be such a comfort read for me. When I need a hug from something scary, I will reach for this book again. Recommended!

⭐⭐⭐⭐★
4/5 stars

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Mini Middle Grade Horror Reviews

I am behind on my reviews and have some catching up to do! Here are a few of the middle grade books I've read recently!

Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick

Who is the mysterious bloodstained man who stops their coach? Why is no one around when Lance and the rest of Year Six arrive at the brand new Crater Lake activity centre? But this is just the beginning of the school trip from hell; a fight for survival that sees five pupils band together to save their classmates from an alien fate far worse than death. But whatever happens, they must Never. Ever. Fall asleep!

I cannot get enough of middle grade horror, and Crater Lake is scifi horror! This book was a lot of fun, and I adored that it had a big scifi element to it. I need more of that in my life.

I already have a copy of the sequel. (It was a must read preorder for me.) I can't wait to check it out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★
4/5 stars

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The Stitchers (Fright Watch #1) by Lorien Lawrence

The start of a spine-chilling new horror series about the eerie happenings in a small town
 
Something strange is happening on Goodie Lane . . .
 
Thirteen-year-old Quinn Parker knows that there’s something off about her neighbors. She calls them “the Oldies” because they’ve lived on Goodie Lane for as long as anyone can remember, but they never seem to age. Are they vampires? Or aliens? Or getting secret experimental surgeries? Or is Quinn’s imagination just running wild again?

If her dad were still around, he’d believe her. When he was alive, they’d come up with all sorts of theories about the Oldies. Now, Quinn’s determined to keep the investigation going with the help of Mike, her neighbor and maybe-crush. They’ll have to search for clues and follow the mystery wherever it leads—even if it’s to the eerie pond at the end of the street that’s said to have its own sinister secrets. But the Oldies are on to them. And the closer Quinn and Mike get to uncovering the answers, the more they realize just how terrifying the truth may be.

I'm excited about this series! The Stitchers is a fun - what is going on with the old people in this neighborhood - spooky delight.

I can't wait to see what spooky adventure comes next for these kids. I'll be there!

⭐⭐⭐⭐★
4/5 stars 

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The Nefarious Necklace by K.A. Evans

Ghosts are pesky things, and ten year old Gaby Brown would like to get rid of hers. After Gaby touches an old necklace at her local museum, the menacing spirit of an ancient Egyptian girl named Kesi appears. The ghost wants something. And she wants it now! When Kesi threatens Gaby’s family, Gaby knows she must do something. But what? How can she stop a ghost? Gaby and her friend, Jacob, delve into Egypt’s past and realise there’s more to the necklace than they thought. Can they unravel the clues and help Kesi before the ghost gets REALLY angry?

The Nefarious Necklace reminds me of Magic Treehouse books! When Gaby touches an ancient Egyptian necklace, she is transported to ancient Egypt and must help a restless spirit. I think kids that have grown up reading Magic Treehouse would love to graduate into reading The Nefarious Necklace.

The horror is slow to emerge in this one, but it does definitely show up by the end. I would follow Gaby on more quests.

⭐⭐⭐★★
3/5 stars 

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