Hatty’s Reading Corner

11^th September 2025

Good morning Lords and Ladies,

I have missed you. I know it hasn’t been long but I have so many books to share with you. I will take a little break soon I promise. When I write to you, I feel like I am giving you a hug and that’s what is keeping me going right now. I have almost got up to date on all our chats and been able to slow down before work restarts and I go back to choir.

I can’t wait to go back and learn our new songs. We don’t have any new Christmas ones, but they will come back into our set lists. I can’t believe the songs return in October. I know we need to do them ready for Santa, but come on, October!

Here are our new songs.

September ­– Earth, Wind & Fire

Next To Me – Emeli Sandé

A Little Respect – Erasure

I am so excited, we get to bring this one back from the Rock Choir back catalogue. I have never had the chance to learn or perform it and I can’t wait!

On the subject of respect, I have a lot of respect for Diana Gabaldon and Lord John who finds himself in 1757 in Germany when we open the next short story.

Dedication

Thank you Barbara for helping me escape into such a cleverly woven world.

Review (SPOILERS may be below)

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Series: Lord John Grey

Novella title: Lord John and the Succubus (Lord John Grey 1.5

Anthology title: Lord John and the Hand of Devils

Publishers: Penguin Random House

Imprint: Century

Audiobook narrator: Jeff Woodman

Audiobook: Lord John and the Hand of Devils (Lord John Grey 0.5, 1.5)

Ways of reading: Audiobook/Hardcover

Started reading: 24^th August 2025

Finished reading: 26^th August 2025

Genre: Science Fiction

Originally published: 31^st January 2008

Original language: English

Read rating: ***

Number of pages: 100

Enjoyment: 3/5

Ease of reading: 5/5

Would I recommend? Yes

Dictionary Nook

SUCCUBUS – a succubus is a female demon believed to have sex with men who are asleep. Keep one eye open at all times.

Lord John and the Succubus was certainly easier to read then Lord John and the Hellfire Club. I definitely wouldn’t want to be a man who comes across a succubus in my bed. I can’t believe Lord John has to hunt it down.

‘”I believe it is a sort of female… spirit.”’ Grey said carefully avoiding the evocative term “demon”.’

The short pieces in Lord John and the Hand of Devils are shrouded in the supernatural. It’s interesting to see Diana Gabaldon take a different approach then she does with Claire and Jamie. It is read really well by Jeff Woodman too. The succubus jumps off the page.

Hands up whose ready to read Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (Lord John Grey Book 2).

Thank you for giving this a read. We will be taking a wee break from the world of Lord John and looking to spread some magic with a fantasy book club read next time we visit the Reading Corner.

Warmest regards,

Hatty