January : My Month in Review
31 January 2018 
This is my first month in review for 2018 – also, some of these lists look a bit longer than usual but that’s because I didn’t post a month in review for December 2017 so this doubles up. I’ve had a good month with plenty of excellent books – guess I’ve been quite lucky. We’ve had a few mishaps (chunks of ceiling falling down and the like) but it all just adds to the rich texture of life doesn’t it! Anyway, my month in covers is here if you’d like to check out their loveliness. My Month in Covers
Books read: this month = 9
- The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson
- The War of Undoing by Alex Perry – review to follow
- The Feed by Nick Clark Windo
- The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
- The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton – review to follow
- Chaos Trims my Beard by Brett Herman – review to follow
- Hazelwood by Melissa Albert – review to follow
- The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar- review to follow
- The Chrysalids by John Wyndham – review to follow
I still have a few reviews yet to follow but a couple are already written and scheduled.
What’ve you been reading??
Backlist books
Ahem, none this month – although I have started Anthony Ryan’s Waking Fire so hopefully I’ll finish that one soon.
Unfinished series completed:
None this month.
Books Bought (I’ve included December buys in here as I didn’t have a monthly round up for December):
- Age of Assassins by RJ Barker
- Lustlocked by Matt Wallace
- Pride’s Spell by Matt Wallace
- Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
- The Vanishing by Sophia Tobin
- The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
- Cold Iron by Stina Leicht
- The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst
That’s not too bad really when you consider it’s two months and includes my birthday and Christmas – in fact I’ve still got credit left from gift cards.
Review Books (again, this probably looks like a lot of books but it’s two months worth and some of the dates are quite well spread apart (so for example I have 7 titles for February – doable I think).
- The Bitter Twins by Jen Williams
- The Beast’s Heart by Leife Shallcross
- Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking
- Planetfall by Emma Newman
- One Way by S J Morden
- Clockwork City by Paul Crilley
- Kin by Snorri Kristjansson
- Semiosis by Sue Burke
- The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse
- Blood of Assassins by RJ Barker
- Looking Glass by Andrew Mayne
- The Sisters Mederos by Patrice Sarath
- The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst
- Feeder by Patrick Weekes
- The Hunger by Alma Katsu
- School for Psychics by K C Archer
- Bad Man by Dathan Auerbach
- The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
I’ve read two of my SPFBO titles : The War of Undoing and Chaos Trims my Beard. Which leaves me with 7 more books to complete.
My cover compare this month:
The Hunger by Alma Katsu – which sounds chilling to say the least:
It’s difficult to choose isn’t it – one is very dark and foreboding, not to mention barren and rather lonely looking. The other looks bitterly cold and chilling in a terrifying sense with all the warnings. My favourite is:
Hope you’ve all had a great start to 2018. Let me know what plans you have for your reading and blogging and feel free to share a link if you like.
This is a wonderful spread of books, Lynn. You have clearly had a great reading week in January:)
January was quite a good month – I was hoping to finish the Anthony Ryan book too but I just couldn’t quite do it.
Lynn 😀
Love that cover of The Hunger (the lighter one with the text, I hadn’t seen it before)
It’s a bit creepy isn’t it.
Lynn 😀
I just finished The Wolves of Wintr and liked it a lot! Planetfall has me curious and so does The Queen of Sorrow (I need to read that series).
I can’t wait to read The Queen of Sorrow – well the whole series, I have all three waiting and I’ve heard good things.
Lynn 😀
I’m really curious about Kin and The School for Psychics. And of course I’m super excited about Looking Glass and The Hunger! So many awesome books coming up, I have to start reading faster:-)
Yeah – I’m really looking forward to all of those. And, yes, I also need to read faster. February has been a bit hectic to begin with so now I feel like I’ve got a little behind.
Lynn 😀
I hope you have a chance to read Promise of Blood soon! 😀
I hope so too – it’s in a pile of books that all look amazing.
Lynn 😀
Can’t wait to see what you thought of The Hazel Wood. I have that on my list, but I probably won’t be starting that for another couple of weeks. And Kin! You’ll have to let me know how that goes, I had to hold myself back from requesting that one until my netgalley pile is a bit under control again. Had to press the button on Looking Glass though 😀
I liked the Hazel Wood – it does spend a lot of time building up though but I enjoyed that aspect of the story because I found it a bit creepy. The fairytale elements and the Hazel Wood don’t really begin until at least half way though the story (maybe even later).
Lynn 😀
I now know that I’m currently loving all blue/orange book covers I see and will think on that as I choose books this year and design covers. Also, I need to read a Holly Black book. I’m embarrassed to say I only just learned of her, but now see her everywhere.
Yes, the Cruel Prince has been receiving some glowing reviews. I highly recommend her. Good luck with your book cover designs and the blue/orange themes.
Lynn 😀
Oh, the temptation of so many wonderful books! Will I be able to resist their siren song?
🙂
(and who really wants to resist?)
Nobody really wants to resist – I have managed to throw myself into disarray though this month with ‘life’ things getting in the way so that even though I had a good December and January I now find myself behind – that’s how easy it is – in which case I’m going to where strong earplugs and resist the siren song for a while – or not.
Lynn 😀
I have had a good start to 2018: getting my reading up and finishing 5 books in January 😀 In February, I look forward to seeing your thoughts on The Chrysalids, good luck with all those reviews copies, and happy reading!
I really liked the Chrysalids. Maybe not more than The Triffids but definitely as much. It has perhaps dated a little bit but overall it was a compelling read and a great commentary on prejudice and fear over things that aren’t the same.
Lynn 😀
Wow! That’s quite the spread! I so hope you enjoy Promise of Blood – absolutely my favourite book of the year I read it…. whenever that was! i still have to read the rest of them though! 😮
Yeah, I didn’t do a post in December so this one was a double up – never again.
Lynn 😀
Great month! Your upcoming review books look so good, too.
Yes, I have a lot of reading to do but some rather good looking books so it’s all good.
Lynn 😀