Sep 1: A Murder of Quality, by John le Carrè

I'd heard a lot of praise for le Carrè over the years and I was in the mood for pessimistic cold war spy fiction. This is his second novel, and he hadn't really figured out that was his wheelhouse yet. It's about George Smiley, his bland bureaucratic spysona, but it's a very parochial murder mystery of the type that dominated back then, which is to say imitation Agatha Christie. Do not recommend.

Sep 3: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V. E. Schwab

Very interesting book about a woman who made a dark deal, and now cannot die but is instantly forgotten when she leaves someone's sight. It's about her relationship with a man who is immune to her curse, and moreso about her relationship with that dark power. Very interesting, very well written. Recommend

Sep 5: Midnight Riot, by Ben Aaronovitch

Another urban fantasy, this one about the gods and spirits of London and the police wizards that try to keep them placated and out of the public eye. Really enjoyed this one as well. Sort of occupies a middle ground between Neil Gaiman and Jim Butcher, and has some fascinating real history in it that I didn't know previously. Recommend

Sep 7: The Last Watch, by J. S. Dewes

This is new space opera, which I love, but it's really iffy about some of its concepts. A lot of it takes place at the literal edge of the universe, which is not a good topic unless you have the physics background of a Greg Egan or Alastair Reynolds. Then there are a couple of alien species that are kind of signaled as elves and orcs, which made me question whether this started as 40k fanfic somehow. Do not recommend

Sep 13: A Master of Djinn, by P. Djeli Clark

I've been reading this guy's short fiction for a while, and this is his first novel. Several of the stories share setting and characters with this one, an early 20th century where supernatural beings have returned abruptly and shifted the power balance away from Europe. It's about the Egyptian ministry of supernatural stuff dealing with an international plot and its arcane consequences. Strong recommend

Sep 15: The Paradox Hotel, by Rob Hart

Near-future story about time travel tourism and the decision of the US government to privatize it, and what a terrible fucking idea that is. The main character is coming unstuck in time while trying to keep the whole thing from going sideways. Recommend

Gonna stop there for now.

Sep 17 and 19: Tiamat's Wrath and Leviathan Falls, by James S. A. Corey

After a long wait list on book 8 of the Expanse I managed to snag 9 too and polished them off back to back. Really good conclusion to a fantastic series. Didn't really think they'd manage to stick the landing and wrap up such a massive series satisfyingly but I'm happy to have been wrong. Strong recommend (starting with Leviathan Wakes obvs)

Sep 25: Too Like the Lightning, by Ada Palmer

A novel of the 25th century written consciously in the style of the 18th. Fascinating culture that reveres the French enlightenment. It's the start of a trilogy and I'm really interested to continue. I hadn't heard of this author before but I'm going to keep an eye out from now on. Strong recommend