The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation invited twelve book clubs to shadow the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize shortlist. Read on to find out what they thought of their allocated title!
The shortlist
The winner for Best Published Novel award will be revealed on 11 September at a private ceremony in London, UK. Also being celebrated will be the New Voices award for aspiring writers and the Author of Tomorrow award for writers aged 21 years and under who have completed a short piece of adventure writing.
Suze’s Reading Group
Suze’s Reading Group is an online book club who meet up on the first Thursday of each month to discuss their book of the month, as well as chatting about their latest reads. They read A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay.
They noted that the book club all reacted in different ways. Members seemed to have different experiences depending on if they were reading the printed book or listening to audio.
Many members enjoyed the use of Jamaican patois and slang and how the ‘house was a really interesting metaphor throughout and provided the reader with a little supernatural eeriness.’
St Barbara’s Book Group
St Barbara’s Book Group are a mixed gender wide-ranging book group, varying greatly in age and experience, evolving from a church bible study group where we kept finding ourselves getting distracted and talking about books instead. They read A House for Miss Pauline by Diana McCaulay.
Every member engaged well with the book, and all really enjoyed it. But some reacted in different ways to, for example, the use of patois without a glossary, the need or otherwise for maps and had different views on these more detailed aspects of the book.
They have noted more details about their discussion in a blog post.
Gin Club with a Book Problem
Gin Club with a Book Problem are a group of gin-loving bookworms who believe the best stories are shared with friends—and maybe a splash of tonic. They read Babylonia by Costanza Casati.
Overall, the book club loved, and enjoyed reading, their allocated book. They found it easily accessible to read, process and reflect upon.
Members described the title as captivating from the beginning, with many noting they were impressed that the author has ‘clearly immersed herself in the historical research and mythical life of her main character; the time spent researching this story has paid off in the historical description and character portrayals that are so cleverly depicted in the narrative.’
Read with Yeovil
Read With Yeovil is a very mixed group who meet monthly for a 2 hour lunchtime session where they discuss two books, and talk about whatever else we’ve read that month. They read Babylonia by Costanza Casati.
All members had excellent engagement with the book and all really enjoyed it, and overall noted that ‘Costanza Casati has written a remarkable book full of myths, legends, facts, history all woven deftly together.’
Some noted that they were initially overwhelmed by the glossary at the beginning, however never needed to refer back due to how well written the book was. The novel also included extra notes and author’s notes about the Assyrian way of life, beliefs and explaining the facts from fiction which the group found helpful.
One member summed up the book as ‘beautifully written, with both visual and sensory descriptions, which complemented the fast pace of the narrative with its intrigue.’
The Three Horseshoes
The Three Horseshoes reading group was formed over 10 years ago with a mission to support their village pub by using it as their venue and their local library through the loan scheme for book clubs. They read Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis.
It was noted that the group had differing opinions. Two of the members did not appreciate the humour or the portrayal of the main character, and therefore struggled to connect positively with the book. However, the rest of our group were fascinated by the hoops that need to be jumped to get anywhere near improving the lives of ISIS brides.
One member noted that one of the ‘novel’s strengths is the way that it raises awareness of radicalisation, ideologies, ethics and corruption, amongst others, by amalgamating them within the text. It addresses politically sensitive issues, and encouraged reflection of personal values and beliefs—which I consider a positive effect of reading a novel.’
Another said ‘the subject matter was handled with a light touch; a story that is complex and nuanced, which could cause offence to all parties if not treated with the utmost sensitivity’ but concluded it ‘was depicted with honesty, wry humour and empathy.’
One member simply put that ‘this book made me laugh; it made me cry; it made me angry; it made me sad. It shocked me, entertained me and educated me. That’s pretty much all you can ask of a novel, no?’
Boozy & Bookish
Boozy & Bookish are a lively book club that meets once a month in a small function room above a pub in central Brighton. They read Redemption by Jack Jordan.
Overall, it was noted that the book club all engaged well with, with plenty to say about it—not just at their
meeting, but also in their WhatsApp group chat whilst the book was being read. Members definitely didn’t all feel the same way about it, but this always makes for more interesting discussion!
The group loved the thick and immersive atmosphere—’hot, sandy, and suffocating in a way that perfectly matches the tension of the Nevada desert setting. It’s not just a chase across physical terrain but also an emotional one, where female rage and grief take centre stage.’
One member did describe the novel as ‘relentless. That’s not to say it’s not gripping—it absolutely is. But between the multiple murders, questionable decisions, and moments of suffocating grief, it sometimes feels like you’re being emotionally bludgeoned’. However, this was seen as fitting as it is paired with ‘a world that feels both claustrophobic and terrifyingly vast: mundane motels become bloodbaths, and repetitive roads set the scene for long-awaited confrontations.’
Methley Bookgroup
Methley Bookgroup are a large, friendly book club, based in Methley, near Leeds. The group was founded in 2012, and continues to attract new members on a regular basis. They read Redemption by Jack Jordan.
Overall, the book did divide opinion—some loved the book, some didn’t, but there were so many interesting aspects of the book to chat about, such as themes, characters, plot, pace, setting, symbolism and more, that everyone enjoyed the process, even if they hadn’t loved the actual book.
Members enjoyed that ‘each protagonist in their own chapters which enabled the reader to learn more about the motivations and backgrounds of each of them.’ This was paired with ‘scenes of the unfolding chase against the backdrop of Death Valley with wildfires,’ which ‘are brilliantly written and evocative and the tension builds continually, becoming a page turner to find out what happens next!’
However, some note there were ‘moments or events that were at times unbelievable’ but these were ‘obviously set up to continue the story, and I was OK with that. It added to the cat and mouse element, the fast pace and the drama.’
2 Bee or Not 2 Bee
2 Bee or Not 2 Bee are a lively bunch that meet once a month at The Endeavour, an award winning and welcoming pub in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex. They read Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington.
Overall, the group engaged really well with the book. It sparked discussion, and those that attended were eager to share their thoughts, especially about the themes that were explored. It held their interest and gave them plenty to talk about, from the background of the story to the authors’ own personal experience—this encouraged everyone to reflect more deeply.
One members ‘absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I thought that the writing was sharp and engaging, and every chapter had something that pulled me deeper into the story. The author’s style just clicked with me, and I found myself completely absorbed, like I was living inside the world they created, which is really strange as I haven’t read anything like this before. It’s one of those books where you keep sneaking in extra reading time because you can’t wait to see what happens next, it was very easy to read.’
Members thought the characters were a huge highlight. Not only Sycorax, but everyone felt so real and well-developed, with personalities that actually grew and changed as the story unfolded. The only improvement for some would be that the character of Yamma was mentioned more, due to their connection and genuine care for them.
Busy Lizzies
Busy Lizzies consists of 14 members that are very involved with local community improvement projects and family commitments, and therefore seldom have a full house for their monthly meetings in Bishopton Library. They read Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington.
Overall, Sycorax sparked lots of group discussion exploring their differing views about the storyline and the style of writing. Those who loved the book loved everything about it: the magic and fantasy, the development of the main character, the references to Shakespeare’s “Tempest”, the affinity with the natural world, and following the adventure of the main character. Others noted some inconsistencies and found it a bit slow in places.
Members ‘admired the strength and resilience of the main character and the way she found joy and usefulness in the world around her.’ The group also discussed how relevant it was to our world and drew parallels to the treatment today of people who appear different e.g., people with disabilities and neurodiversity, as well as asylum seekers.
Filipino Mothers UK Book Club
Filipino Mothers UK Book Club is a vibrant online community of Filipina mums who find joy, connection, and strength through stories. They read Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao.
The book sparked loads of reactions—some were totally swept away, while others raised an eyebrow or two (in the best way) about certain parts of the book. ‘We didn’t all feel the same, which made the discussion so much fun and engaging. It was interesting to see how individual experiences shaped our interpretations.’ Overall, the book brought out a fantastic mix of opinions and made for a really stimulating session, with a majority of the group loving the book and the way it sparked intense and lengthy discussion. It opened a window into Italy’s historical situation during World War II, something that the group wasn’t aware of before.
One member noted they found the writing rich and prose beautiful, and ‘found the world-building for a fantasy book of this length amazing.’ Another described it as ‘such a literary gem for those enchanted by atmospheric fantasy with emotional resonance’.
To put simply, one member put ‘it’s less about high-stakes plot and more about the beauty found in introspection, regret, and the delicate magic of choice.’ Overall, it’s lyrical quality and evocative imagers will linger long after the final page.’
Coundon Library Book Club
Coundon Library Book Club have been running for 2 years and are a mixed group of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, who meet to make friends, get back into reading, and just share books with like-minded people! They read Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao.
The group loved reading the same book together for the first time, and enjoyed the discussions of fantasy, settings, characters and tropes they had together. Overall, the book garnered mixed reviews from members.
One member said ‘this has to be one of the most profound books I have ever read.’ With other members following this with enjoyment of ‘how the story explored choices, regrets, and second chances. It made me think about the decisions we make in life and how they shape who we are, but the story stayed hopeful and uplifting,’ as well as ‘the imagery and level of detail included in this book was absolutely incredible and I never felt I needed to work hard at picturing the storyline or characters. The author is clearly a mastermind of ideas and conveys them incredibly.’
Some members struggled with the book due to it not being their usual style, but all would ‘highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a fantasy tale with exceptionally beautiful descriptions of another time and place.’
Get involved
Are you interested in reading any of the shortlisted titles? Find out more about the shortlist here.
If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can order free display packs from our shop.
What do you think of the 2025 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #AdventureWritingPrize. Don’t forget to follow and tag The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation (@Wilbur_Niso_Fdn) and The Reading Agency (@readingagency)!
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Home News and Stories Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2025 Shortlist – What Did Our Book Clubs Think?