New year new books AMIRITE?! Had some REAL BANGERS this month and one gem that made ya girl tear up. Plus another that had maybe my all-time favorite animal sidekick?
Below is my breakdown as always, which includes my rating, what I liked, and where to read. It’s also possible I earn commissions if you make any purchases from links below, and I thank you earnestly for doing so. It allows me to keep putting together these recaps for you!
Let’s get into this January reading breakdown:
I, Medusa
📚 Greek mythology fantasy standalone
🎧 Solo narrated audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounding up to 4 (my full review)
My Thoughts: I LIKED this but I didn’t LOVE this. It was a really cool take on a story I’m glad I read, and the themes of making a monster were super interesting. But there were a couple of character behavior things that took me a little bit out of the story/made me not buy some directions the plot took. But the writing was great and I did enjoy my read!
This book has: Greek mythology, Medusa origin story, female rage, beautiful writing
Where to Read:
Quicksilver
📚 Book 2 in incomplete Fae & Alchemy trilogy
🎧 Duet narrated audiobook
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🔥 Med spice
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 3.75 (my full review)
My Thoughts: I’m gonna be honest, this took me forever to get through. The voice actors are phenomenal, but I think I’m just not invested in this series. If you loved book 1 you’ll love this. If you were mid on book 1 (like I was) then it’s probable you’ll be mid on this too. It’s not BAD, I just feel like I don’t care enough to continue? But I do care deeply about Carrion, so who knows actually.
This book has: shadow daddy, vampires and fae court politics, found family, animal sidekick, incredible side character
Where to Read:
Freckled Fate Saga
📚 Complete romantasy trilogy – book 1 is A Broken Promise
🎧 Solo narrated audiobook
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🔥 Lower spice
My Rating: This whole trilogy was between a 3.75 – 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
My Thoughts: This was a good time, fun romantasy trilogy. I did feel some inspiration from other big, famous series but not in a way that was like, copying. Just “ah I can see what books she loved when writing this”. But it’s a fun time, a TRULYYYYY morally gray MMC, an FMC figuring out her shit, and a big world developing. Oh, and a truly sassy assassin bff.
This book has: assassins, humans, elves, villainous magic, multi-POV over time, slowwww burn
Where to Read:
The Bone Houses
📚 YA standalone fantasy with romantic subplot
🎧 Solo narrated audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 (my full review)
My Thoughts: I loved this, this was so much fun. It has maybe my favorite animal sidekick ever in the form of a goat, the writing was lovely, the characters were amusing, and it was such a fun quest story. Basically there are zombies and we gotta beat the zombies and she somehow ends up on a zombie quest with a map maker.
This book has: you guessed it… zombies, great animal sidekick (check triggers), quests
Where to Read:
The Poet Empress
📚 political fantasy standalone
🎧 Solo narrated audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 4.75 (my full review)
My Thoughts: This was incredible. I loved this so much, and the only reason it isn’t 5 stars is a minor writing thing but truly, this was fabulous. It also made me cry… I thought I was going to get away with not crying and then goddamnit, it got me. The character development in this is actually so incredible, and I couldn’t recommend this enough.
This book has: brutal political maneuvering, patriarchy, unique magic system
Where to Read:
The God and the Gwisin
📚 Book 2 in Fate’s Threads romantic fantasy duet
🎧 Dual narrated audiobook
🔥 Low spice
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.25 (my full review)
My Thoughts: Just like book 1, this was just such a fun time. You start with a crazy new story given the wild ending of book 1, and this is on a cruise ship of all places. it proved to be a hilarious setting with a fun new cast of characters and I just think this duet is a blast.
This book has: Korean folklore urban fantasy, buddy cop/detective vibes, allies to lovers, smart FMC, broody MMC
Where to Read:
The Ninth Element
📚 Book 1 in incomplete Legend of Nohvan romantic fantasy series
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🎧 Solo narrated audiobook
🔥 No spice yet
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 (my full review)
My Thoughts: This was a really fun time! It started a tad slow for me but once it got going I really couldn’t put it down. The FMC was super easy to root for and the 2 romantic options were each so solid I genuinely was like WAIT WHO DO I WANT?! Plus the world is very clearly Persian-influenced and I thoroughly enjoyed that.
This book has: FMC navigating a world of misogyny, sorceresses, unique games and trials, a love triangle (not why choose)
Where to Read:
Cold Stars Midnight Glow
📚 Book 4 in 5 book incomplete Godkissed Bride romantasy series
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
🔥 Med spice
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2.49 stars (my full review)
My Thoughts: I’m so deeply bummed by this, because IYKYK I’m a huge fan of this series so far but honestly… wtf. You simply cannot pull this stunt so deep into a series. There was a story decision made that contradicts 3.75 books worth of plot, character, and relationship development. And that decision somehow solves all conflict that arose in this book between multiple characters? It made 0 sense and was genuinely so, so dumb. I didn’t sleep on my 10 hr overnight flight because I was so annoyed the author could make this decision. ON TOP OF IT MAKING NO SENSE, IT WAS BAD. If *this* was going to happen at least make it good?? Ugh, writing this got me re-mad hahaha.
This book has: fae gods, humans, characters coming into their own, a huge betrayal from the author that again makes 0 sense
Where to Read (if you feel you must):
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