WOW! What a way to start the year! This month will probably go down in history as being the most productive reading month I’ve ever had….. I managed to finish 12 books! TWELVE! It’s been a while since I’ve had a double digit reading month so this felt amazing. I had 9 books on my January TBR and I actually finished 6 of those. I’m not usually good with reading the books I set out on a TBR but I read more than half so I consider that a success. But I did read 3 more books than the 9 that I intended to read which was the biggest surprise. The list is long so I’m jumping right in.
EXIT WEST by Mohisn Hamid <—– (click for full review) 4.5 stars
This was a book that i’ve been considering for a very long time but was hesitant to take the plunge. It deals with a lot of social conflict, war, violence, adjusting, and immigration – all of which are current to todays society. It’s a very short book and I wondered how a book this small would express the emotional impact that comes along with these issues. But it sure packs a punch and was worth the read!
UNEARTHED by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner <—– (click for full review) 3.5 stars
I’ve read a few books by these authors and loved them. They have similar writing styles and it was a science fiction dealing with aliens, scavenging, research, science, and ancient temples. Everything about it was so interesting and enticing! But sadly it fell a little flat. I had some issues connecting with the characters and building the world in my mind. It was a good book and I intend to continue with the series, but there were a few problems that I had with it.
NIGHT OF CAKE AND PUPPETS by Laini Taylor <—– (click for full review) 5 stars
SOOOOO GOOD! This was hands down the most adorable thing I’ve ever read. For some reason I attach myself to quirky weird side characters and Zusana is the queen of side characters! She’s feisty, bad ass, quirky and fun. Even though this basically follows her falling for her boyfriend as it’s the beginning of their relationship, she stays true to the person I fell in love with in the Daughter Of Smoke And Bone trilogy. It was so good I read it in about an hour 🙂
WINTERSONG by S. Jae-Jones <—– (click for full review) 5 stars
I fell for this book and I fell for it HARD! It’s rare for me to be so emotionally invested in a fantasy book. But while I was reading this I could feel all of my feelings and emotions tied to every word. I lost all sense of time, cried, gripped the book like it was my life line, and more. I was so invested in this it was all I could think about!!!
SHADOWSONG by S. Jae-Jones <—– (click for full review) 3 stars
Immediately after finishing Wintersong, I started the sequel. I needed more of the people and places that I loved so much. And sadly, this one didn’t seem to have the same atmosphere. It was missing all of the things that I loved SO much about book one. It was set in a different place, missed a few of the characters, and went in a totally different direction. Sadly, I missed the mark with an emotional connection with this one and I didn’t end up liking it as much as the first one.
WE ARE THE ANTS by Shaun David Hutchinson <—– (click for full review) 4 stars
I went into this one with pretty low expectations. The reviews for it were really positive but it sounded a little weird. A boy is abducted by aliens and given the choice to save the world or not. But the book itself is so much more than the synopsis! It was emotional, impactful, and beautiful. It’s not an easy read as far as subject matter goes. In fact, it’s quite difficult and triggering. There’s suicide, abuse, bullying, rape, teen pregnancy, and more. But it was the message that follows all of this and dealing with all of these issues that was so beautiful. I can’t wait to get to more from this author!
THE HAZEL WOOD by Melissa Albert <—–(click for full review) 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this one! But let’s all just take a second and look at that beautiful cover! I mean it’s gorgeous! The gold and silver shine and, as you read along, the little things drawn on the cover begin to make sense and form the story. I loved the combination of the real world and the magical. It’s very difficult for me to enjoy magical realism (which is what the first part of this book is like) and I thought it was SO well done! And these fairy tales were DARK AS HELL! If I would have read these as a child then I would have been scarred for life! I can’t wait for this series to continue!!
WAKING GODS by Sylvain Neuvel <—– (click for full review) 5 stars
Holy Crap! This is one of the best sequels I’ve ever encountered! I enjoyed the first book but the second one was on a whole other level. There was science, politics, action, war, attacks, deaths, and SO much more! This book had it all! There was never a time where I was bored and it caught me off guard by its brutality sometimes. I listened to the audiobook for this and it was my first experience with a full cast narration……. this audio book deserves all the awards! It was FANTASTIC!
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED by Gregory Scott Katsoulis <—– (click for full review) 2 stars
Sadly, the month ended on a somewhat sour note as I just couldn’t connect with this one. The premise and plot is one of the most unique that I’ve ever heard of in YA fiction, but there were so many unanswered questions that I just couldn’t get past. The world wasn’t developed enough for me to feel as though I had a grasp on the world or the situation as a whole which left me feeling a little lost and underwhelmed. I actually predicted that this would be a 5 star read so this is a little sad. Unfortunately I won’t be continuing with the series.
Lastly, I’m currently in the middle of a series reread for Saga as I prepare myself for the newest release of volume 8. I didn’t do reviews for these as they’re a reread, but I have to say that I actually enjoy this series more the second time around! This is a brutal and really graphic series, but such a good story at its core. I will hopefully finish the rest of these in February and be all caught up
That was the month of January! It was a crazy month but I’m really enjoying the desire to read! I hope that I can manage to continue this way for the whole year. My goal is to read 100 books this month so if I’m going to manage that then it needs to! LOL!! I hope you all had a fantastic month 🙂 What was your favourite read in January? If I had to choose a favourite it would have to be Waking Gods, followed closely by Wintersong.
Until next time, happy reading!
Wow. Super productive month. Way to go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
ahhh, i really enjoyed wintersong!! netgalley sadly denied my request for shadowsong but i may buy it soon (depending on money) i’ve heard a lot of people haven’t liked it as much as the first one!
i loved we are the ants! i was a little worried about it because of aliens and it sounded weird but i thought it was amazing 🙂
unearthed is another one i really want to read too 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you get to pick up Shadowsong soon and I’ll cross my fingers you love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks shanah, me toooo! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve had Wintersong since it first came out but I haven’t picked it up yet. I really need to soon since everyone seems to really like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It took me a while to finally read it too. Then I was mad that I waited so long! Hope you can get to it soon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It sounds like a good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, so impressed by your wrap up! Good work xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
12 books! That’s awesome! I am so glad you enjoyed Exit West. I really want to read that one. The five star rating for Waking Gods makes me insanely happy. I freaking love that series. Probably my favourite!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I convinced a good friend to pick up the Themis files series and get reaction to something in Waking Gods had me laughing so hard!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😦
Still going to read it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please do!! I really want to know how you react to it. Please update me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeeeesss to Night of Cakes and Puppets! I finally read it and it was just sooo adorable ❤
Great wrap up, Shanah 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! And glad you loved it!!!
LikeLike
You have read so many good books in January! There’s a lot on my TBR that I’m excited to get to 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really was a great month! Hope you like some of these as much as I did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh I’m so happy to hear this was a productive month for you, Shanah, twelve books is FANTASTIC! 😀 Here’s to hoping February will be just as amazing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Same to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you had a really great month! Also the books look great, I haven’t read any of them but I think I will need to add them to my list
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it really was a great month. Hope you have an amazing February 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you had such an amazing month 😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Hope you had a great month as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome, I did thanks 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing reading month! I may have to try to cram a bunch of books into a month and see if I can beat my record! February won’t work though. Haha! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh now that sounds like fun! I love challenging myself like that. Out of curiosity what is your record?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s something I definitely want to try the more I think about it. I may have to choose some shorter books though. LOL.
My record is 13 in a month.
-Ashley
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! 13 is a great number – and hard to beat! The only reason why I hit 12 was because 3 were graphic novels 😂 but they count on Goodreads so I count it too!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I had a poetry book as one of my 13, so it wasn’t quite full-length novels either. Haha! It will be tough, but I think I could do it with the right books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Damn, 12 books is crazy impressive! You read some seriously good stuff! I’m rooting for you to hit 100 books this year 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Says the girl with 14 books on her February TBR! 😂 thanks! I need all the encouragement at this point!
LikeLike
You had a great month Shanah!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did! Hope you had a great month as well 🙂
LikeLike
WAKING GODS YES OMG! I’m so glad you listened to the audio it has to be one of the bests out there, the full cast are all amazing and the story is incredible I cannot wait for the third and final book, I don’t even have any theories of what will happen but I’m so excited to see where the story takes us.
I have night of cake and puppets on my tbr and it’s so good to here Zu is the same, she has to be one of my fave characters of all time. You had a great month! Hope feb is just as good 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was talking to someone about what could happen in book three. We have a feeling that one of the characters that we lost in book 2 will come back….. I think you will know who I mean 😉
LikeLike
Very productive! I like the books you chose to read they do look interesting and some are even on my own TBR list. Awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you can get to a few of them yourself 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, Night of Cake and Puppets is cute AF
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! Cute AF needs to be in the synopsis 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve read so many interesting books! My TBR just grew a lot haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahaha! I’m not sorry about your growing TBR either 😂 enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg!! I love Zuzana too! I had no idea there was a book from her perspective! Adding that to my TBR now!😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
You will love it!!!
LikeLike
Looks like you had an excellent month, Shanah 🌸
I’m currently reading The Hazel Wood and I’m really enjoying it; I’ve seen loads of bloggers loving it so I’m excited to finish it! I have Wintersong on my TBR so I’m really happy to see that you enjoyed it.
Hope you have a lovely February 🌸
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks yes I did! Enjoy those two books!
And you have a lovely February as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like you had an excellent month, Shanah 🌸
I’m currently reading The Hazel Wood and I’m really enjoying it; I’ve seen loads of bloggers loving it so I’m excited to finish it!
LikeLike
Wow! 12 books a month. Productive use of time
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was! 🙂 hope I can make it happen again soon!
LikeLike
All the best! ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person