Ronit J

November 2025 Reading Wrap-Up! I finally finished reading The Brothers Karamazov! What’s interesting, I actually finished reading it on November 1st, and I genuinely think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. Certainly the best book I’ve read this year.

Apart from that, November was a much slower reading month than October. I only read novellas and short stories, and one manga series, and made progress on r/Fantasy’s Bingo 2025 card. However, I didn’t get a chance to review any of these, which is really on me. I have a lot to do this December.

So, without further ado…

November 2025 Reading Wrap-Up!

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky – ★★★★★

I started reading this book on June 15th, but took a break in Aug-Sept for many different reasons including mental health. In October, I finally felt ready to resume this one, and honestly… it was quite an epic read. I guess being in the right headspace made all the difference. Also, the second half of the book reads almost like a thriller, with so much activity happening that I just didn’t feel like putting the book down.

Dostoevsky is an absolute genius, and his literary prowess comes alive with Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky’s award-winning translation! I’m glad I read this book, because I knew this book was changing me every time I flipped the page.

I wanted to review it, but I just can’t bring myself to sit down and write one. Nothing I can write feels justifiable enough against the life-changing epic that I read. Just know that this is the best book I’ve read this year.

The Whisper That Replaced God by Timothy Wolff – ★★★★

I wanted to read this the day it came out, but for one reason or another, I kept putting it off. Every time someone reviewed this novella, I wanted to drop my current read and pick it up because everything said about Whisper sounded perfect for me. Now that I’ve read it, I can finally say: WOW. Timothy Wolff has an amazing writing style that really brings his absurd story alive, with a rich world and believably twisted characters.

My full review is live now on SFF Insiders.

The Whisper That Replaced God Part II Silent Almighty by Timothy Wolff – ★★★★

I picked this up almost immediately after finishing the first part. And that should tell you something about what I felt. Lord Mute has a very uniquely addictive voice that—despite his being unlikeable—will charm you and engage you until the book runs out of pages. A near-perfect ending to this duology, I highly recommend both of these books.

My full review is live now on SFF Insiders.

Micromégas by Voltaire – ★★★1/2

Honestly, I mainly read this to practice my French. However, knowing that this is the first ever fictional story published to feature extraterrestrials visiting Earth made this quite an interesting read. Story-wise, not much to say. But, the philosophical exploration of how insignificant we humans are in the cosmic scale of things is something that definitely stood out.

This should be categorised as a short story, but everywhere I checked, this is listed as a novella. So, that’s what I’m going with too. Is Micromégas worth a read? Yes, definitely!

Foreign Powers (A Twist of the Hybrid Helix) by JCM Berne – ★★★1/2

I was on my way to a friend’s party, and the commute was over an hour long. I wasn’t in the mood to read my CR, so I decided instead to dive into this cozy world. No, it’s not really cozy fantasy, but you know how I feel about JCM Berne’s Hybrid Helix.

Foreign Powers read like a deleted flashback scene from his latest book. While the story wasn’t all that special, it was a comforting, entertaining read to pass the time. If you are a fan of the Hybrid Helix, definitely worth checking out. If you’re considering reading the Hybrid Helix, however, this might not be the best starting point. Best read between Books 2 & 3, or after Book 3.

November 2025 Reading Wrap-Up | Current Read:

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Finally,

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope my November 2025 Reading Wrap-Up helps you decide on your next read. Check out my other posts:

• The Age of Disclosure (2025) | Brain Rot Masquerading as a Documentary
• South Park Seasons 27 28 | Not a Review
• It Was Just An Accident (2025) | Jafar Panahi | Film Review
• A Man On The Inside Season 2 | Review
• Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 | Review
• Eddington (2025) | Film Review
• No Other Choice (2025) | Park Chan-Wook | Film Review
• Island of the Dying Goddess

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Hope you had an amazing month! Until next time!