Previously reviewed: 27 November 2018
Rating: 4/5

There’s this small bike race happening at the moment. It’s called something like… Le Tour de France. Ever heard of it? It’s a bit niche, so don’t feel bad if you haven’t.

Of course, I jest. However, with Le Tour rolling around our screens at the moment, it got me thinking about a book I read and reviewed back on the previous version of TaleInferno: The Rider by Tim Krabbé.

So, what better time than to do a throwback book review on it? Let’s get into it.

Reading timeline: 11 June 2024 – 26 June 2024
Overall rating: 4.25/5

A two-part series, the Black Death duology by Minette Walters explores human behaviour, social hierarchy, gender stereotypes and religion in the face of a terrible sickness: the plague (aka. the black death, hence the series name).

Set in England during the 14th century, this is a series that begins with the choices and actions of the people of Develish as they try to survive the early stages of the plague, and finishes up with them charging forward into the future in a changed landscape for themselves—socially and healthily.

I have tried to limit spoilers in this series wrap up. However, there is every chance a spoiler or two may slip through the cracks as part of this review. Proceed with caution if you have yet to read this series.

Finished reading: 26 June 2024
Rating: 4.5/5

The second book in Minette Walters Black Death duology, The Turn of Midnight continues immediately after the ending of The Last Hours. And, let me tell you, this book is a fantastic second and final book to this series.

The people of Develish remain quarantined away from the plague, however more trouble erupts when the outside world gets word of the success of Develish, which is where we find ourselves leaving book 1 and entering book 2.

And, let me tell you, this follow up really elevates the game, changing the focus from surviving now to securing the future.

Since this is the second book in the series, there is every chance there will be spoilers in here, so if you haven’t finished the first book or still making your way through the second, proceed with caution! You’ve been warned.

Previously reviewed: 2 August 2017
Rating: 2/5

It’s time to jump into another throwback book review, turning our attention to one of the most—if not the most—difficult books I have read.

And before I get too far into it, please excuse the condition this book is in. I believe there was an unfortunate accident on a train that involved a sudden stop and someone falling over (aka. me), resulting in the front being torn.

Originally titled Cien Años de Soledad, Gabriel García Márquez’s book was one I picked up as part of one of my university subjects to read, analyse and produce a literary analysis essay on.

What began as a challenge I thrust upon myself turned into quite the journey, and it is burned in my mind as a book that introduced me to the world of magical realism, and a text I will never pick up and read again.

So, this is the perfect throwback book review as I get to look back and relive my trauma while sharing it with you.

​Before I get into it, I do also want to note that this is one of those historically significant books that has huge depth, and there is every chance I’m going to analyse or refer to something incorrectly due to the time that has passed since I read this book. I apologise in advance if I refer to something incorrectly.
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Now, Let’s get into it.

Finished reading: 24 June 2024
Rating: 4/5

You ever wonder about a world where people get really sick, and so healthy people cut themselves off from the sick and isolate to stay healthy? What if there were like… time limits where a person exposed to an illness had to isolate away from the healthy to make sure they didn’t have the sickness, and then they could mingle with the healthy?

I guess most of us don’t have to wonder, but here’s the thing… I’m not talking about that pandemic we had in the haze of 2020-2022. I’m talking about the plague.

The Last Hours by Minette Walters is the first book in the Black Death series and explores a group of people of Develish who, through the choices and leadership of the Lady of the demesne, isolate themselves to not become ill with the plague. And, let me tell you, this is a great book to read after the pandemic.

​Finished reading: 26 May 2025
Rating: 3.75/5

We’re onto book 3 in The Empyrean series. Onyx Storm continues to build in terms of corruption, betrayal, sacrifice, and, of course, the power of love in the face of it all.

But, the real question is: is love powerful enough to overcome the darkness that came to be at the end of Iron Flame? 

As this is book 3 of the series, there will be spoilers. You’ve been warned!

Previously reviewed: 22 November 2018
Rating: 5/5

We’re back to another throwback book review, this time looking at the inspiring story by Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist.

You ever have those moments where you hear a reference to something, and then for the next few days it seems like everyone’s talking about it. Your social media is feeding you ads about this specific thing, and you just feel like its following you around?

That’s what happened with me back in 2018 when it came to The Alchemist. I had never heard the book before until I heard it in a Macklemore lyric. Then, I kept on hearing people talk about this amazing little story that was inspiring them. Before I knew it, I had someone at the place I worked at in 2018 recommending me to read it.

Why do I want to return to it now? Strangely enough, there’s been some things happening in my life that have had me thinking about this book. So, I thought it only right to come back to it and reflect on how I feel about it now after all these years, and why it’s been on my mind.