January 2019 Wrap Up

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Hey, loves! This has truly been one of the wildest months of my entire life. From starting Booktube, to starting a book club, to hitting 40k on Goodreads, to being asked to host Contemporary-a-thon, this month has truly been a dream come true for me. I’m so thankful for each and every single one of you and I can’t believe how blessed I am to call you all my friends. Thank you, with everything I am, thank you.

Also, League of Legends Spring Split started up, so you know my reading was taking a hit on the weekends, but it’s always worth. But I was able to read 15 things on top of this blessed and busy start of 2019. And I was able to reread probably my favorite of 2019, let’s be real! But I also read some other amazing things, too!

What I read in January…
(Like always, you can click the links in each of the titles if you would like to read a more in-depth review of each book and see the individual trigger and content warnings.)

➽ The Wicker King (The Wicker King #1) by K. Ancrum – ★★★★★

“Would you do something bad if you knew it would have more good in it, in the end, than bad?”

Okay, I just want to start this review off that this book will forever be sentimental to me, not only because it was the first book I read this year and that I absolutely loved it, but also because it was the very first pick for the Dragons & Tea Book Club and the author came into the group and answered so many questions that made this one of the best reading experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life. This book will just always have a special place in my heart now.

➽ The Legend of the Golden Raven by K. Ancrum – ★★★★

“There is a difference between being nice and being kind.”

Oh my gosh, I am living my best life thanks to this short story! This month, I also read The Wicker King and fell so in love with Jack and August and how they both were able to give the other one what they needed in a world that wasn’t willing to fill their voids. And The Legend of the Golden Raven is a brief retelling of The Wicker King but from Jack’s perspective, where we really get to dive into the fantastical world he was able to see. And friends? I loved this. My only complaint is that I wanted more because I will always want more from these characters. Also, seeing Rina in this? Truly added five years to my life. I love this story, I love these characters, and K. Ancrum is truly a blessing.

➽ My Fake Canadian Wife by M. Hollis – ★★★★

“Why was it so hard to find good mainstream media where you could see two girls falling in love with a happy ending? Even harder if I wanted to find stories with black girls. Brazilian black girls falling in love? Mostly, I’d only found them in indie and self-published books. Maybe it would be easier to enjoy more media if everything I tried to watch didn’t look as white as the walls of my apartment.”

Did I start 2019 off with the cutest sapphic relationship set up, that also featured a pan love interest? Wow, the blessings for this new year already! Friends, I loved this. And if you’re looking for something diverse, something hella cute, something super romantic, and something that’s a really quick read, then look no further.

➽ 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne – ★★★

“Maybe he’s 1 percent mine. That has to be enough.”

Sally Thorne’s long awaited and most anticipated sophomore release, 99 Percent Mine was truly a wild ride for me. I’ll be honest, it took me a while to warm up to this story and especially to this main character, but I ended up enjoying this one for the most part. But, sadly, it is no The Hating Game, or at least it wasn’t for me.

➽ Again, but Better: A Novel by Christine Riccio – ★★★

“If you could go back and do London all over again, knowing everything you know now, would you do it?”

Friends, I wanted to love this so badly. So damn badly. Christine is not only the actual Queen of BookTube, she was one of the first channels I ever watched. She just seems so kind, and genuine, and I always feel like she radiates positive energy, and she was such a massive part of why I wanted to read Shadowhunters in the first place. But this review isn’t going to be about that, nor is it going to be a drag or me spilling the tea; this review is just going to be about why this debut was only okay for me. Even though I very much hope it works for you come May 2019! Also, please keep in mind that I have a very early ARC copy of this book. Many things could be changed upon publication!

➽ A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes #1) by Arthur Conan Doyle – ★★

“There is a mystery about this which stimulates the imagination; where there is no imagination there is no horror”

Everyone’s favorite original detective is Sherlock Holmes, and I’ve been wanting to see how it all began for a long while now! But I can honestly say that I was not prepared for the last half of this tiny book. Yet, I am still happy that I can finally say I’ve read the source material.

➽ The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees – ★★★

“Let’s start with the Witch in the Woods.”

This is a story that is telling two very different tales with alternating chapters. One is a girl in our world, living in a beach house with her family, and she has suffered from nightmare like dreams her entire life. The second is a witch in the magical woods, who grants children wishes with her heart, and she is being told a story by a very different kind of fox. These tales simultaneously go on and weave together that is actually really beautiful.

➽ A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1) by Brittany Cavallaro – ★★★★

“I felt like I was being pulled through a dark, dank wardrobe into some boozy Narnia.”

This was the most unexpected treat! I thought that I might enjoy this one, but I never expected to fall completely head over heels for it, especially after reading A Study in Scarlet the night before starting this! This is a reimagining of Sherlock and Watson, but told in the perspective of their descendants, Charlotte and Jamie, in modern day! And, oh my gosh, this was just fantastic!

➽ The Hod King (The Books of Babel #3) by Josiah Bancroft – ★★★★★

“The world is full of wolves and lambs, but precious few shepherds.”

I can’t believe that Josiah Bancroft did it again, but he truly did it again. This is such a wonderful installment in a world that I never want to leave. This entire series is such a unique treat that is truly unlike any other fantasy out there. Every paragraph is so smart, every chapter so perfectly crafted, and each book makes me more and more invested. I am at such a loss for words because of this book’s pure magnificence.

➽ Song of the Dead (Reign of the Fallen #2) by Sarah Glenn Marsh – ★★★★

“I’m Odessa of Grenwyr, and the dead answer to me.”

This review is going to be up VERY SOON! But I loved this world, these characters, and this author so much. The ownvoices bisexual representation means so much to me, and I will never get sick of reading about necromancers. I think this duology is a damn gift to the YA genre and I am so blessed that I was able to read it. Also, give me all the dragon companions, please!

➽ The Foxhole Court (All for the Game #1) by Nora Sakavic – ★★★★

“It’s about second chances, Neil. Second, third, fourth, whatever, as long as you get at least one more than what anyone else wanted to give you.”

Holy shit, I didn’t think I’d actually like this. What even is my life? Friends, I couldn’t put this down. I read it in 24 hours and no regrets were had. This was way darker than I expected, but I became so damn invested in this main character and I honestly fell in love with him and his story from day one. I know this is a bit of a polarizing read, but if you enjoyed Fence and The Wicker King then I think this story is for sure worth a try for you! Especially since it’s free on Amazon US!

➽ Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows #1) by Kim Harrison – ★★

“Making a spell is easy. It’s trusting you did it right that’s hard.”

Dead Witch Walking is just a product of its time and it just reads like an early 2000s PNR/UF story. I guarantee if I read this back when I was in love with the Fever series, the Kate Daniels series, and the Riley Jenson Guardian series, then I would have enjoyed this way more than I did. Sadly, we are in 2019, and the true fact is that this didn’t age well, in my opinion. But I still had a lot of fun reading this one!

➽ Truly Devious (Truly Devious #1) by Maureen Johnson – ★★

“When you have enough power and money, you can dictate the meanings of words.”

This was just so not what I was looking for. I’ll have a full review up soon, but basically this story alternates from past to present day, but the story never feels like it is moving forward. This was a slog to read, and it continued to just be a worse and worse reading experience while reading. And the cliffhanger ending? It just felt so cheap and so out of left field. I probably won’t be continuing on with this series.

➽ The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black – ★★★★★

“I want to tell you so many lies.”

Even better the second time around. Perfection. Masterpiece. My fucking heart.

➽ King of Scars (Nikolai Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo – ★★★

“A handsome monster husband who put a crown on her head? It’s a perfect fairy tale to sell to some starry-eyed girl. She can lock you in at night and kiss you sweetly in the morning, and Ravka will be secure”

Okay, friends! Full review to come very soon! But this was just okay for me. And the ending honestly irritated me. But Zoya? Zoya is everything and I’d die for her and her happiness.

Okay, loves! I hope you enjoyed! I am sorry I’ve been so busy, but I really think things will calm down after Contemporary-a-thon! Let me know what your favorite book of January was! And I’m wishing you the happiest of reading, always! 💛✨