Rosemarie Cawkwell/Everything Is Better With Dragons book review
@betterdragons.bsky.social
Reader and writer of fantasy and sci fi, reviewer of mostly sci-fi and fantasy, some crime, and non-fiction. Butler to a rescue feline called Phoenix. Collector of books, yarn, and dragon stuffies. Neurodivergent and Queer. Based in Lincolnshire.
I've spent this weekend crocheting a pair of thick socks from my Lottie & Albert Curate Crochet Box. They're mostly cream with green highlights on the toe or heel and cuffs. They're made using Drops Fiesta yarn, which is 75% wool and 25% polyamide. I need to wear thin socks with them because wool!
September 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I've spent this weekend crocheting a pair of thick socks from my Lottie & Albert Curate Crochet Box. They're mostly cream with green highlights on the toe or heel and cuffs. They're made using Drops Fiesta yarn, which is 75% wool and 25% polyamide. I need to wear thin socks with them because wool!
I'm working on my first crochet cardigan. I've made jumpers and hoodies before but this is my first attempt at a cardigan. I'm making up the pattern as I go along. I'm going to attempt to shape the arms properly this time!
August 14, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I'm working on my first crochet cardigan. I've made jumpers and hoodies before but this is my first attempt at a cardigan. I'm making up the pattern as I go along. I'm going to attempt to shape the arms properly this time!
My current working environment: A wingback chair. A small table. My laptop. A dragon. What more could I need?
August 5, 2025 at 10:28 AM
My current working environment: A wingback chair. A small table. My laptop. A dragon. What more could I need?
I've spent to day crocheting the large bag from the July #CurateCrochetBox. I had to frog rows 9, 10, and 11 several times. I kept missing a slip stitch. I changed the bee pattern after i made the first one; making it on the bag was a faff. I'd planned to visit mum today. Or go swimming. Tomorrow?
July 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I've spent to day crocheting the large bag from the July #CurateCrochetBox. I had to frog rows 9, 10, and 11 several times. I kept missing a slip stitch. I changed the bee pattern after i made the first one; making it on the bag was a faff. I'd planned to visit mum today. Or go swimming. Tomorrow?
Very slowly working my way through the nominated works for this year's @britfantasysoc.bsky.social Awards Best Collection award.
The publishers of three very kindly sent me physical copies, which helps immensely with my brain weasels, but I'll still give the ebooks a fair assessment. It might
The publishers of three very kindly sent me physical copies, which helps immensely with my brain weasels, but I'll still give the ebooks a fair assessment. It might
July 10, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Very slowly working my way through the nominated works for this year's @britfantasysoc.bsky.social Awards Best Collection award.
The publishers of three very kindly sent me physical copies, which helps immensely with my brain weasels, but I'll still give the ebooks a fair assessment. It might
The publishers of three very kindly sent me physical copies, which helps immensely with my brain weasels, but I'll still give the ebooks a fair assessment. It might
Two of the three books for blog tours in August: Home Before Dark by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir, published by @orendabooks.bsky.social
And, The Cat Bride by Charlotte Tierney, published by Salt.
The third book will be The Burning Stones, by Antti Tuomainen, also published by Orenda Books.
And, The Cat Bride by Charlotte Tierney, published by Salt.
The third book will be The Burning Stones, by Antti Tuomainen, also published by Orenda Books.
July 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Two of the three books for blog tours in August: Home Before Dark by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir, published by @orendabooks.bsky.social
And, The Cat Bride by Charlotte Tierney, published by Salt.
The third book will be The Burning Stones, by Antti Tuomainen, also published by Orenda Books.
And, The Cat Bride by Charlotte Tierney, published by Salt.
The third book will be The Burning Stones, by Antti Tuomainen, also published by Orenda Books.
Today, I am mostly going to sit in wind garden, under my parasol reading Into The Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant (pen name of @seananmcguire.bsky.social).
This book was published in 2017 amd it's been on my TBR for a while. I needed a book about the sea today. Also, needy scientists and murderous
This book was published in 2017 amd it's been on my TBR for a while. I needed a book about the sea today. Also, needy scientists and murderous
June 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Today, I am mostly going to sit in wind garden, under my parasol reading Into The Drowning Deep, by Mira Grant (pen name of @seananmcguire.bsky.social).
This book was published in 2017 amd it's been on my TBR for a while. I needed a book about the sea today. Also, needy scientists and murderous
This book was published in 2017 amd it's been on my TBR for a while. I needed a book about the sea today. Also, needy scientists and murderous
Bits I brought back from It's Strange Up North.
Books. Bookmarks. A pin. Sample chapters. A tote bag.
It's been a long, busy weekend, absolutely I'm tired amd probably need to have a good 'exhaustion' cry.
Books. Bookmarks. A pin. Sample chapters. A tote bag.
It's been a long, busy weekend, absolutely I'm tired amd probably need to have a good 'exhaustion' cry.
May 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Bits I brought back from It's Strange Up North.
Books. Bookmarks. A pin. Sample chapters. A tote bag.
It's been a long, busy weekend, absolutely I'm tired amd probably need to have a good 'exhaustion' cry.
Books. Bookmarks. A pin. Sample chapters. A tote bag.
It's been a long, busy weekend, absolutely I'm tired amd probably need to have a good 'exhaustion' cry.
My @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social edition of The Sorrow of the Sea, by @stephenaryan.bsky.social has arrived. It's beautiful. I have the set now!
May 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
My @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social edition of The Sorrow of the Sea, by @stephenaryan.bsky.social has arrived. It's beautiful. I have the set now!
Got some excellent book post today: The @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social edition of Magician by Raymond Feist.
It's Gorgeous!
It's Gorgeous!
May 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Got some excellent book post today: The @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social edition of Magician by Raymond Feist.
It's Gorgeous!
It's Gorgeous!
Book post.
How to kill a witch: A guide for the Patriarchy, by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, published by Monoray
I'm reviewing for the blog tour in late May. Blog tour organised by Random Things Tours.
It's about the witch hunts in Scotland.
King James I & VI was a nutter.
How to kill a witch: A guide for the Patriarchy, by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, published by Monoray
I'm reviewing for the blog tour in late May. Blog tour organised by Random Things Tours.
It's about the witch hunts in Scotland.
King James I & VI was a nutter.
April 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Book post.
How to kill a witch: A guide for the Patriarchy, by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, published by Monoray
I'm reviewing for the blog tour in late May. Blog tour organised by Random Things Tours.
It's about the witch hunts in Scotland.
King James I & VI was a nutter.
How to kill a witch: A guide for the Patriarchy, by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, published by Monoray
I'm reviewing for the blog tour in late May. Blog tour organised by Random Things Tours.
It's about the witch hunts in Scotland.
King James I & VI was a nutter.
Damn it! I've just written and lost a multi post thread about this issue of @newscientist.com and my distress at the promotion of, and confusion about, GLP-1 agonists, my disordered eating history, and the diabetes nurses who have tried to force me to take GLP-1 agonists or do a starvation diet.
April 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Damn it! I've just written and lost a multi post thread about this issue of @newscientist.com and my distress at the promotion of, and confusion about, GLP-1 agonists, my disordered eating history, and the diabetes nurses who have tried to force me to take GLP-1 agonists or do a starvation diet.
Phoenix lying on my stomach. This is the closest she gets to cuddling. I'm having a quiet day. My ear infection is itching. should probably eatand take all my meds, but I really want to sleep some more.
Anglian Water are supposed to be fixing a leaking pipe today, so I don't know if I have water.
Anglian Water are supposed to be fixing a leaking pipe today, so I don't know if I have water.
April 2, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Phoenix lying on my stomach. This is the closest she gets to cuddling. I'm having a quiet day. My ear infection is itching. should probably eatand take all my meds, but I really want to sleep some more.
Anglian Water are supposed to be fixing a leaking pipe today, so I don't know if I have water.
Anglian Water are supposed to be fixing a leaking pipe today, so I don't know if I have water.
My @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social edition of Grave Empire, by @richardswanauthor.bsky.social has arrived. I now have two special editions, from The Broken Binding and Goldsboro Books. Comparison photos below. Both have sprayed edges, but the Broken Binding edition has full cover art.
March 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
My @thebrokenbinding.bsky.social edition of Grave Empire, by @richardswanauthor.bsky.social has arrived. I now have two special editions, from The Broken Binding and Goldsboro Books. Comparison photos below. Both have sprayed edges, but the Broken Binding edition has full cover art.
This is Phoenix today. She's a fluff ball! Dolly looks more like Moppy, a cat we has when I was a kid. We got her from the Blue Cross sometime in the 1980s, and she lived until 2005.
March 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
This is Phoenix today. She's a fluff ball! Dolly looks more like Moppy, a cat we has when I was a kid. We got her from the Blue Cross sometime in the 1980s, and she lived until 2005.
Random Phoenix looking cute picture.
March 14, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Random Phoenix looking cute picture.
Lego sets made today. A dragon, from a children's set given to me as a birthday gift from a friendlast year, a Jame Goodall scene from the Women of Science (I think) series, a limited edition flower arrangement set, and two of the possible creations from a seaside limited edition set, all 3 from mum
March 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Lego sets made today. A dragon, from a children's set given to me as a birthday gift from a friendlast year, a Jame Goodall scene from the Women of Science (I think) series, a limited edition flower arrangement set, and two of the possible creations from a seaside limited edition set, all 3 from mum
Phoenix on guard!
Picture taken earlier this afternoon just after I got back from my walk.
She wasn't impressed that I'd left the house, even though it was less than half an hour.
Picture taken earlier this afternoon just after I got back from my walk.
She wasn't impressed that I'd left the house, even though it was less than half an hour.
March 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Phoenix on guard!
Picture taken earlier this afternoon just after I got back from my walk.
She wasn't impressed that I'd left the house, even though it was less than half an hour.
Picture taken earlier this afternoon just after I got back from my walk.
She wasn't impressed that I'd left the house, even though it was less than half an hour.
And an unexpected book. I forgot I'd pre-ordered. I'm sure I ordered a special edition from somewhere, so I wasn't expecting a standard edition as well. I forget things far more often than I'd like.
March 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
And an unexpected book. I forgot I'd pre-ordered. I'm sure I ordered a special edition from somewhere, so I wasn't expecting a standard edition as well. I forget things far more often than I'd like.
Just got back from swimming. I think I've done something to my knee, but never mind, because I have crocuses flowing in my garden!
March 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Just got back from swimming. I think I've done something to my knee, but never mind, because I have crocuses flowing in my garden!
Wooo! The book I'm reviewing on Friday has been found and brought to me! Nice lad, apparently he tried finding the me but didn't think to try this far down the street.
Touchpaper by David Dodds
Reviewing for @lovebookstours.bsky.social tour starting later this week.
Touchpaper by David Dodds
Reviewing for @lovebookstours.bsky.social tour starting later this week.
March 3, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Wooo! The book I'm reviewing on Friday has been found and brought to me! Nice lad, apparently he tried finding the me but didn't think to try this far down the street.
Touchpaper by David Dodds
Reviewing for @lovebookstours.bsky.social tour starting later this week.
Touchpaper by David Dodds
Reviewing for @lovebookstours.bsky.social tour starting later this week.
Me, exhausted. We're waiting for the speeches and awards to end still.
February 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Me, exhausted. We're waiting for the speeches and awards to end still.
When I finished The Last Blade Priest, I started The Way Up Is Death, by @danhanks.bsky.social, also published by @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social. By then it was 01:00 and I really had to go to bed, so I only read the first chapter. I'll get back to it after swimming this afternoon.
February 25, 2025 at 10:54 AM
When I finished The Last Blade Priest, I started The Way Up Is Death, by @danhanks.bsky.social, also published by @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social. By then it was 01:00 and I really had to go to bed, so I only read the first chapter. I'll get back to it after swimming this afternoon.
Last night, I read probably two thirds of this book, The Last Blade Priest, by W. P. Wiles, published by @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social, and finished it at 00:39. I didn't plan to stay up that late, but I was enjoying the adventure.
February 25, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Last night, I read probably two thirds of this book, The Last Blade Priest, by W. P. Wiles, published by @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social, and finished it at 00:39. I didn't plan to stay up that late, but I was enjoying the adventure.
This afternoon I will mostly be reading SON by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger, published Orenda Books. I'm reviewing next month. I've got three tours next month, but this is the first book to arrive. I need at least a week before the tour date to read and review a book.
February 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This afternoon I will mostly be reading SON by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger, published Orenda Books. I'm reviewing next month. I've got three tours next month, but this is the first book to arrive. I need at least a week before the tour date to read and review a book.