January Reads

During the month of December, I had a bit of a reading slump, but I’m happy to say my appetite for books returned full force this month, and I started off 2017 with some really great reads. (My inspiration to take a quality picture of my books was rather lacking, however. But I like an excuse to feature some of my bookish mugs).

So:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt • 5/5 stars
I truly began this year with the book of books, and it’s definitely this month’s favorite. It’s tragic and disturbing and fantastic and will probably be one of my favorites of the year. I’m THAT confident. Full review.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir • 4/5 stars
This was a really fantastic start to a fantasy series set in a gruesome world of oppression, where children are taught violence, and ideas are treated with brutality. The romance was my biggest point of contention with this book, which involved some “inta-love” and love triangles, which I’m not a fan of. I loved the action in this book, and the villain of the story is one nasty lady. Full review.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir • 4.5/5 stars
The sequel to An Ember in the Ashes, this book took off right where the last book left off, and I loved it a lot more than the first one. This book was deadlier, delved deeper into its fantasy, and really revealed the heart of this series. Full review.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness • 4/5 stars
This book focuses on the lives of “side characters” as apposed to the traditional heroes. The premise of this story held more promise than the plot actually did, but I still really enjoyed it, particularly for its characters. Full review.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson • 5/5 stars
This book was beautiful and fantastic, about two artistic twins who lives get flipped after a tragedy. It broke my heart, but it was very worth it in the end. Loved it. Full review.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black • 3.5/5 stars
I flew through this book, but in the end I found it rather unbalanced, slow at times, and that it required more solid world-building and detail. It flipped some traditional fairy tale tripes on their heads, which I loved, but I think I simply expected more from this book. Full review.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas • 1.5/5 stars
It was finally time for me to get to this book, and unfortunately I wasn’t impressed. It was inconsistent in plot and character and did not live up to its own summary at all. I spent most of this book frustrated and/or bored. Full review.

February plans

Despite the little landslide at the end of the month, this was a very good month of reading. I just began Passenger by Alexandra Bracken for my first read of February, and then I’ll see where my mood takes me!

As for the ~real world~ I’m still job searching and had a few interviews this month for a full time job, so hopefully something works out, or I finally find something that will work out this month. My interviewing even took me to Philadelphia for a few days last week, which was a fun little adventure, so at least it’s not all emails and phone interviews. I hope by the end of next month I’ll be able to say I’ve got something!

Also, February is my birthday month, which means the annual conversation:

Friends & family: Hey Steph! What do you want for birthday?
Me: Uhhhh I dunno…books?
Friends & family: ………okay but what else?
Me: ……There is nothing else?

😎

Hope you all have a great February!