Hi all! Today I’m sharing with you my thoughts on all the books I read in the first month of the New Year. I am very happy with my reading this month as I read a total of 12 books, which is possibly the most I’ve read in a month.
January TBR challenge: 5/6 which I am really happy with, I read a lot of YA this month so I’m not fussed I didn’t get to the last book.
Number of pages read: 4,241
Average pages read per day: 137
Here’s a breakdown of what I read this month
- 1 Classic
- 1 Graphic Novel
- 4 YA
- 2 Historical
- 2 Re-reads (both of which were YA)
- 2 Non-Fiction
Of these books male authors wrote 3 and 9 were written by female authors.
Now onto the books!
- Fruits Basket, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya; I adore the anime so of course I decided I was going to read the books. I’m not sure if it was the library copy I had, but the story felt disjointed and jumped around a lot. I’m glad I’ve already watched the anime so I knew what was happening. But overall I was disappointed because I loved this series and hoped the books would give me more. I figure I will read the second one before I decide to give up on this series.
- Last Breath (#11 The Morganville Vampires) by Rachel Caine; I have made it my goal this year to finally finish this series, so you will see more of these book popping up in my wraps. I adore this series, it’s a lot of fun and I love the Glass House gang. I think with this book being the 11th in the series, the plot feel similar and it wraps up perfectly in a book or two, it’s formulaic. But despite this, I really do love this series.
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind; This is a very beautiful written book with a fascinated premise. Overall I really enjoyed this book. The main character, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, was especially creepy and make my skin crawl – but in a good way. At first the descriptors of scent was beautiful and vivid I could almost smell what Suskind was describing. However towards the end, I think I was over-sensitised to the long winded descriptors and wished had been edited down. I did enjoyed the other perspectives Suskin explore. But at time I felt the Suskind moved to the perspective when Grenouille’s perspective would’ve been the most interesting to stay in. The ending was amazing and one I didn’t expect at all. A beautiful book that I highly recommend if you’re okay with read dark and twisted books.
- Black Dawn (#12 The Morganville Vampires) by Rachel Caine; I won’t say much about this book since it is the 12th of the series and that I prised this series with the pervious book. I adore this, perfect way to wrap up this plot-line even if it was a little too convenient.
- The Rebel Prince (#3 Moorehawke Trilogy) by Celine Kiernan; I not sure If I has read this book straight after the first two, if I would’ve felt different. Overall I enjoy this conclusion to the trilogy. I had some problems with Wynter and how she treated her boyfriend during this book. But the ending was everything I every wanted! I wish more people would read this series, it is very underrated.
- The War of Art: Break Through the Block & Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield; This book is the perfect pick-me-up for when stuck in a some kind of creative block – in my case writer’s block. The book is filled with bite-size essay, explaining resistance and ways to over come it. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of all the references to God, I enjoyed Pressfield’s advice. This is a book I will dip in and out of when I need inspiration.
- Skin by Ilka Tampke; This was a book that I was sad I didn’t get to last year but was a perfect way to start off 2016. Tampke really brought Iron Age Britain to life – the tribal aspect and religion of the Britons was beautifully described and vivid. I adore Ailia, the politics of the tribe and the panic stirred by the Roman Invasion. I cannot wait for the second book in the series and I highly, highly recommend. If you’re unsure because you’re not a huge fan of historical fiction please give it a try. There are parts of the novel that is very fantastical and perfect for any fantasy lover.
- The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh; I adore this book. I loved exploring a different culture and Ahdieh described it beautifully. I’m not very familiar with the A Thousand and One Nights story but I think is was a perfect retelling. I loved watching the affection and relationship bloom between Shahrzad and Khalid. The reason I didn’t give this book a 5 stars is that I felt lost a little during some perspective changes – that might be my fault not the book’s. I cannot wait for the final book to see how this story wraps up.
- The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell; This was the perfect follow up to The Last Kingdom. For those who have watched/are watching the BBC adaptation this is were the season ends. I love Uhtred’s character and cannot wait to see how he grows and where he ends up. Cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series.
- The Poison Throne (#1 Moorehawke Trilogy) and The Crowded Shadows (#2 Moorehawke Trilogy) by Celine Kiernan; These were both re-reads for me and I cannot tell you how much I loved diving back into this world. These books have amazing characters the prefect mix of magic, intrigue and adventure. Also the second book features the most adorable LBGT+ couple – I love them so much. More people need to read these book so I share my love of them with someone!
- Lost in Translation by Ella Frances Sanders; This is an adorable little book that I firmly believe that everyone should read. It goes through 50 different beautiful words that are untranslatable in English. Seriously, pick it up! You won’t be sorry!
Words of the Roses 