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When people ask me what books I reach for, I tend to say, “Oooh, fast-paced thrillers that throw you right into the deep end,” so it may be surprising to some (and, let’s be honest… myself!) that I’ve just finished the second book in the Game of Thrones series, A Clash of Kings.

For context, I didn’t watch the show as it was airing (I wasn’t entirely under a rock though; I did know of it and admittedly wondered what all the hype was about!) and only watched the first series last year.

But these books? I said it after I read Game of Thrones, and I’ll say it again: George R.R. Martin’s work is truly fantasy at its very, very best.

Dark, beautifully written, with the best characterisation I’ve ever read; moving, settings you can picture with remarkable ease; villains, monsters, conflict… need I go on?

This is 900-odd pages of fantasy excellence. I couldn’t put it down and found myself unbelievably absorbed in the trials and tribulations of the story. Just fantastic.

The third one is even longer, and the story has already gone deeper than I ever prepared for, so I am so excited to get round to it… just don’t ask me when!

I'm learning that I'm a not a big fan of books with differing perspectives. The change in writing style and jump in timeline ends up throwing me, and I tend to favour one voice over the rest.

In this case, the differing perspectives worked well for the story, and the twists within it. The plot dived into unrealistic territories at times but, in saying that, I did find myself racing through it to unravel the tale and all the little pieces of loose thread woven throughout.

Sadly, the ending and the twists didn't quite live up to the expectations spelled out at the beginning of the book, and it ended up just falling a bit flat. But, boy, can McAllister build up to something brilliantly.

A mixed bag for me, but ultimately I did enjoy this and McAllister is a author I will keep an eye out for, for sure.

There aren't many authors who could get me excited about a nearly 350 page deep dive into a modern-day breakup, but Alderton write with such an honest, relatable and beautifully ordinary touch that I'd probably devour, annotate and savour even her shopping list.

Good Material follows Andy as he navigates life after being broken up with by his girlfriend, Jen. It clicks off every classic breakup stage; denial, downward spirals, dabbing in new hobbies, drunk calls and rebound attempts - all from the perspective of a 35-year old man.

But, my favourite part comes near the end when Dolly lets us into Jen's mind, offering a fresh perspective that feels like a relief after being immersed in Andy's world for three quarters of the book. Honestly, I wish we had even more of voice, it was by far the most wonderful chapter in the story.

This book is tender, amusing so characteristically Dolly, ultimately lending to my choice of giving this 4 out of 5 stars.