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One of my new year's resolutions was to read more, as it is every year. I seem to fall into a bi-annual cycle where one year, I'm reading fervently, like I did in high school, and the next year, months drag by without a word consumed. Last year, I think I read a total of three books, and I can't remember a single one. So far, as of writing this post, I've already read two, so I thought it prudent to start a monthly recap.
January started off strong with Saint by Adrienne Young, more than half of it devoured in one day. I discovered Adrienne in 2021 when I took a chance on Fable, and quickly after I had read everything by her. Each book carved a place in my heart, all sea-salt and soul. I was so happy to return to The Narrows in Saint. (The Last Legacy was one I struggled to finish last year, by no fault of the author. I was simply too overwhelmed by...everything. But Adrienne's books are quick reads. I'll return to it again soon. The Narrows has me in its grips, now and forever, even if that world has closed its doors.) I'm a generous 5 out of 5 star-giver, and Saint is no exception. A beautifully crafted world with such vivid characters. Adrienne pours her soul into her writing, and it's obvious in Saint.
Next up was The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew. I'd had this one on my list for awhile (I've been following Kelly since her Little was even littler) and this one didn't so much carve out a piece of my heart as burrow in next to it. Some books are quiet and lingering. Some are loud and demanding. A rare few straddle the liminal space between, and this one does. Much like Addie LaRue, in my mind, this one has filled a void I didn't know existed within me. It takes up space, loudly and oh so present, but it lingers long after the last page, quiet murmurings like the rustle of the dead. I've been craving dark academia since Ninth House and The Atlas Six, and this hollowed me out, in a deliciously obliterating way. 6 out of 5, because it would hurt too much to give it anything less and call it truth.
Then I started Belladonna by Adalyn Grace. Another name I discovered mid-pandemic, this time with All the Stars & Teeth and All the Tides of Fate (which absolutely destroyed me at work, so I highly recommend reading those if you like to cry). All the Stars & Teeth actually inspired my debut, so I had high hopes for Belladonna, but sadly it did not keep my attention. I fell back into a tough routine with work, and since I finished writing Sable, I turned my focus to writing the sequel to my debut, so reading was not a priority at this point. The first few chapters didn't pique my interest enough; the protagonist felt bland and I couldn't find the plot quick enough. I'll return to it eventually.
After I put down Belladonna, I picked up Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo. I was a late fan of Leigh's. I first fell in love with Six of Crows, and then when the show came out two years ago, I quickly devoured the Shadow & Bone series. When Ninth House came out, I was super excited to jump into another world, and it quickly became a favourite. Dark academia wasn't something I had read before, so it was a good introduction, and now I can't wait to see what Hell Bent has in store. I'm only a few chapters in, but Leigh's writing has a strangehold on me.
So, January ended with only two books read in the first eight days, but I'm also reading Sam's early version of the sequel to her debut, and the eARC of Veronica King's debut, Down The Well, both of whom are fellow debuts from Inimitable Books. Next month, I'm on vacation in California for ten days, so I don't expect to get much reading done, but my goal is to finish Hell Bent and start on A Dowry of Blood, which I won in a Twitter giveaway.
How did you do in January? What's on your shelves for February?
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