Reading roundup

Kim M. Watt - A Manor of Life and Death. The third in the Beaufort Scales series of cosy mysteries with dragons, this sees DI Adams joining the Toot Hansell WI (and the Cloverly dragons) on what is meant to be a relaxing spa weekend. Sadly, when the sous-chef is found dead it all becomes rather too much of a busman's holiday. Light-hearted fun, with bonus cake recipes at the end.

Stephanie Burgis - Frostgilded. This epilogue to the Harwood Spellbook series sees Cassandra and Wrexham celebrating their second winter solstice at Thornfell College of Magic, surrounded by family and students, but Cassandra just wants some time alone with her husband. Short and very sweet, and a lovely ending to the series.

G Willow Wilson - Ms Marvel, Vol 2: Generation Why. Kamala Khan is settling into her secret superhero identity and trying to find out more about the mysterious "Inventor" and why he has been kidnapping teenagers. Fun and clever, and I am surprised how much I am enjoying this series given that I'm not a superhero comics fan.

C.L. Polk - Soulstar. The third in Polk's Kingston Cycle trilogy shifts narrators again to wrap the series up with a sweet romance between long-separated spouses and a no-holds-barred push for political changes in the Jazz Age fantasy realm of Aeland. I've enjoyed this series a lot, and this is a great finale.

I can stop feeling guilty now

As of this evening, I am officially On Leave, and we are off to the Lake District tomorrow morning for a week. I really hope that will be enough to get some of my energy back.

I thought I'd try working from home today to try to tidy up some loose ends before going away. By 9am I was fairly sure this hadn't been a great idea. By 10am I knew that I would not be able to make it through a full day, so I shuffled meetings around to allow me to catch up with the key people before logging off just before 1pm and spending the afternoon resting.

I suppose if I don't feel rested by the time I get back I will need to get my GP to sign me off...