January Reading Wrap Up

“When you love someone, they become a part of who you are. They’re in everything you do. They’re in the air you breathe and the water you drink and the blood in your veins. Their touch stays on your skin and their voice stays in your ears and their thoughts stay in your mind. You know their dreams because their nightmares pierce your heart and their good dreams are your dreams too. And you don’t think they’re perfect, but you know their flaws, the deep-down truth of them, and the shadows of all their secrets, and they don’t frighten you away; in fact you love them more for it, because you don’t want perfect. You want them. You want—”

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

In an ideal world, I would have posted a review of all these books, individually. This was both the longest and fastest January I ever experienced. There were a lot of stressful moments for me, but in the end, the moments in which I felt solitude and calmness were when I was reading, writing or spending time with my family. I’m happy to say that I am writing again. It’s been a long break for me, a time of uncertainty, at odds with myself and the words I want to put on the page. I’m writing more for myself again, and I’m really just trying to focus on writing because I love it and want to improve my craft. I think at the end of the day, that’s the best way to do it.

January was a great reading month for me. Without even meaning to, I realized that all the books I read were by female authors, and I think that’s amazing. These are all really talented writers, writing some of my favorite books of all time and I’m so excited to briefly talk about them all here.

Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner kind of took me by surprise. I think this is an underrated fantasy novel. It follows two characters, Onna, a young woman who has enormous magical talent and Tsira, a troll who is the daughter of a clan leader, but who has never felt as though she fit in. Onna knows she has what it takes to be successful magically, but she is turned away from attending the school she desires because her magic is considered controversial and too different. She is looked down upon, but she is unwilling to accept her fate and instead travels to the city, Hexos, hoping she can find a place there. While there, she is quickly swept up in a case involving the murders of trolls. Tsira, on the other hand, is walking through the snow one day when she comes across a human man, Jekran. Realizing he is ill, she nurses him back to health. The two decide to travel together, and it’s not long before they strike up a friendship as they discover who they are and where they want to be in the world.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the last book I started at the end of last year and finished it right when the new year started. It has a really fascinating magic system and a lovely cast of characters that you can’t help root for.

I have this bad (and yet wonderful) habit of finding an author and buying every book I can find by them, planning on reading everything they have written because I love them so much. Kate Elliott is one of those authors. I read her Cold Magic series, her Servant Mage novella and the first novel in her newest trilogy, Unconquerable Sun and was absolutely swept away. She is amazingly talented, and I am drawn into every world she creates. I have to say, this is one area in which Kate Elliott shines. She writes some of the best, most intricate and beautiful worlds you’ve ever seen. Jaran was no exception.

Jaran is one of my favorite books, ever (I’m going to say that again before this post is through). It is absolute perfection, and I’m planning on finishing the entire series this year. Tess Sorensen is a young woman who just wants to live a life of her choice. But her brother, Charles, a very important ruler, has other plans for her. When Tess discovers something regarding the planet Rhui (one of the planets her brother rules over), she sneaks aboard a vessel that takes her to the planet’s surface. There, she lies about her identity to try and determine why the Chappalii are so interested in this planet and what they are doing there. But as she is trying to discover the truth, find herself and mend her heart that has just been broken, she encounters the Jaran people. Almost immediately welcomed them, Tess folds herself into their society, realizing that she could have more than she ever anticipated.

I really loved this book so much. It has everything you could want in a science fiction novel, and the romantic storyline was an added bonus. I absolutely cannot wait to keep diving into Kate Elliott’s worlds. She never, ever lets me down.

And speaking of authors who never let me down, Seanan McGuire is of course, one of them. I’ve been reading the Wayward Children series since they started. It was the series that got me addicted to Seanan McGuire, and it feels like coming home, every time. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is such a short novella, I won’t say too much, but it was nice to see recurring characters find their endings within this world of many doors. This is a series I could read forever. The worlds, the characters, the doors- they are all beautifully unique, sometimes terrifying, but ultimately heart-wrenching and wonderful.

Lost Places by Sarah Pinsker is my first short story collection by this author, and I was incredibly impressed. My favorite story in the collection was “Two Truths and a Lie” which delves into the realm of what we remember as kids versus what is actually real. It’s chilling and tense, but so addicting. Once you read this first story of the collection, you can’t stop. Immediately after, you encounter the story “That Our Flag Was Still There” which is a story that really makes you think about what’s important when it comes to believing in the country you live in. It’s a story of patriotism, but more than that, it’s a story about truth. I guess the best way to put this one, it’s a story about using your voice, your platform as someone in the spotlight of the entire country for good. To use your voice for the right reasons and not just to shine a light on yourself. I think I keep coming back to this one because of the ongoing global climate. It’s hard not to think about.

I could go on and on about this collection, it’s really brilliant and you won’t be disappointed if you read it. I have so many favorites, and I love reading short stories because they tend to stick with me for a long time. It’s hard to let go of such profound moments.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn is another book I’ve had for a long time. It’s the first book in the Urban Fantasy series, Kitty Norville, and it was so so much fun. Kitty is a midnight DJ on a radio. When she starts getting asked questions about the supernatural, she feeds into it, meaning for it to be fun. Her listeners don’t know she’s a werewolf, and she’s blurring the line between the two worlds in ways no one expects. But Kitty is a really interesting character. Currently part of a pack that pushes her down, she starts to realize that her voice and her story matters. She wants more for herself and finds ways to get what she wants out of life. This book is delightful, and I will definitely be continuing this series!

It’s been a long time since I read a Shadowhunters book. I loved the first two Shadowhunters series that I read, but I have minor quibbles with both of them. Small enough that I can let it go, but I guess there enough that I was afraid to step back into the world again. Lady Midnight kind of began haunting my thoughts. I found myself desperate to read it, and I am so glad I did because it was absolutely fantastic! It’s set about five years after the last Shadowhunters book and follows Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn. We see these characters in the original series, but they were much younger. Now, Emma is older and is still hunting down whoever is responsible for the death of her parents. Despite the fact that the Clave has already closed the case on her parents, Emma can’t let it go. Her parabati, Julian, is always willing to help her too. But when mysterious deaths that seem very similar to her parents’ death begin to happen, Emma and Julian are drawn into figuring out what’s going on. To complicate matters, Julian’s brother, Mark, a member of the Hunt is given to them temporarily in exchange for his assistance and their allegiance while they look into these murders. But Mark has been in Faerie for a long time, and stepping back into his old life isn’t so simple. I’m really, really simplifying this review. So many amazing, wonderful and tense moments happen. This was another huge favorite for me, and I’m so glad I read it. I’m also hoping to finish the series this year!

And here we are at last. My absolute favorite of all favorites this month, Wrapt in Crystal by Sharon Shinn. Sharon Shinn is by far, without a doubt, an author I wish everyone would just trust me on and read. I’m lucky to have a circle of book friends who read her, but everyone else, you are missing out. She is one of the best storytellers in existence. Her worlds are incredible. Her characters will tear out your heartstrings and hug you through the pages. She is a complete and utter marvel, and I swear, she can write anything.

Wrapt in Crystal starts with an Interfed Agent, Cowen Drake, traveling to the planet of Semay to investigate a possible serial killer. This new assignment thrusts him into a world he’s never experienced before. The people on Semay worship the goddess, Ava, and for the most part, the planet is peaceful and happy. However, the people worship Ava differently. There are the Fideles, a sect of priestesses and their followers who worship Ava simply. They work hard to raise money, feed the poor, heal the sick and recite prayers while living with as little as possible. The Triumphantes, on the otherhand, live with enormous wealth, power and extravagance but give back to the people in incredible ways. Priestesses of both sects are being murdered, and Drake is there to figure out why.

It’s not long before he’s drawn into the folds of Jovieve, the head of the Triumphantes, and Laura, a Fidele priestess. The more time Drake spends with each woman, the more confused and at odds he becomes with the two sects and their methods of worshipping the goddess, Ava. He sees the beauty and the limitations of both, and he’s struggling to figure out how he would worship Ava if he had the choice. At the same time, he’s trying to figure out who the murderer is, doing extensive police work to bring the killer to justice and keep these women, who he’s now more tangled with than ever, safe.

The reason I loved this book so much is not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it really makes you think. I am not a particularly religious person, but Sharon Shinn knows how to write about faith, belief and love in a way that no one else can quite capture. I became so immersed in this world, I really just couldn’t help but wonder where I’d fit. Would I be happy as a Fidele? Or could I live as a as a Triumphante without guilt? It was so much more than this, too. I just can’t quite put into words how perfect this book was. While Sharon Shinn has written a lot of series, this one is a standalone novel, though I would completely love if there were more to come in this world/universe.

All in all, my January reads were amazing. I’m starting off February with another Sharon Shinn, The Dream Maker’s Magic, to finish of the Safe-Keepers series that is just beautiful in its own right. I hope you all had great reading months. It’s looking like it will be a fantastic reading year!