Hi everybody, and welcome to my January wrap up!
As you may recall, I’ve been struggling with a little reading slump for the last 3 months or so of last year. However, I’m happy to report that January was an AMAZING reading month! Every book I read was a solid 4 to 5 stars and I’m just so thrilled to LOVE reading again. I also fell in love with a new gorgeous series and am loving the binge-reading! Let’s hope this amazing streak continues throughout the year!
Anyway, here’s what I’ve been up to in January:
Immortal Fire (Red Winter #3) by Annette Marie (re-read)
I re-read the first two books in this trilogy (my all-time favorite) in December and so I finished with the final installment this month. And it was amazing. The best way to start the new year for sure – I’m making this a yearly tradition!
Rating: 5 stars | Read all the reasons why I love this trilogy so much
Wolfsong (Green Creek #1) by T.J. Klune
New favorite author coming up? Because my third T.J. Klune read is ANOTHER 5-star read. While Wolfsong is way angstier and violent, it still has that magical essence that hooked me before: the complex, multi-layered yet extremely loveable characters, the deep connections and found family aspect, the slow-burn romance and the quirky humor.
Rating: 5 stars | Read my full review here
Ravensong (Green Creek #2) by T.J. Klune
If you thought I would be obsessively bingeing this entire series after falling in love with Wolfsong… you’d be right. Ravensong continues in the same world and with the same cast of loveable characters, but this time the focus is on witch Gordo and his second chance romance with werewolf Mark. Though I loved Wolfsong just a tad more, this was another fantastic installment.
Rating: 4,5 stars
The Long-Forgotten Winter King (Guild Codex: Unveiled #2) by Annette Marie
The second installment of the Guild Codex: Unveiled series is completely unputdownable. Prepare for dark backstories, twisted characters, powerful fae and messy relationships with a strong emotional and empowering undercurrent! Also… there’s only one bed…
Rating: 5 stars | Read my full review
Wicked Bite (Night Rebel #2) by Jeaniene Frost
Why yes, I’m also still deep into my Jeaniene Frost obsession! Though I’m almost at the end as I just finished Wicked Bite, the second and penultimate installment in the Night Rebel trilogy focusing on Ian and Veritas. As always, Ian brings the humor and sass and I love him for it.
Rating: 4 stars
Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #2) by Katee Robert
Mix dark romance and Greek mythology and you get the Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert! Electric Idol is a retelling of the myth of Eros and Psyche and it is steamy and delicious. Also, yay for a plus-sized heroine!
Rating: 4 stars
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas (re-read)
In preparation of the release of House of Sky and Breath in February, I did a buddy re-read of the first book in this series with my IRL bestie. And it was an amazing idea because 1) I have goldfish brain so refreshing my memory was definitely needed and 2) I remembered how much I loved this first book, this worldbuilding and these characters. I cried my heart out the first time I read it, and despite this being a re-read I STILL cried my heart out AGAIN at certain scenes. To me, that’s a sign of a great story.
Rating: 5 stars | Read my original review
Top Ten Tuesday
My Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2022
The Most Recent Additions To My (Physical, Ebook & Audio) Book Collection
2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To (Yet!)
Favorite New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021
Can’t Wait Wednesday
The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
Other
10 Ways I Plan to Refresh my Joy of Reading this Year (so far, so good!)
My 6th Blogoversary give-away!! (The give-away is still running until 9 February, so if you haven’t yet, go enter now!)
For some reason I’ve been craving more rock sounds lately, so for the first time in a long time this wrap up does not feature any kpop… who even am I?
MY FAVORITE: Against the Current – Wildfire (LEC Version)
I just adore this band so much and I’m loving all their new releases lately!
As It Is, Set It Off & JordyPurp – In Threes
This song has such a dark and atmospheric vibe and I am here for it.
Set It Off – Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (feat William Beckett)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 6
Yes, I’m still on my Buffy The Vampire Slayer re-watch marathon (watching with the husband) and I’m getting nervous because we’re nearing the end and I don’t know what I’ll do with my free time when this is over. Do I just start all over again? Season 6 is not my favorite of all, though it does have some great moments. One thing I realised during this rewatch that I didn’t realise before? How much I LOVE Tara. She’s just such a steady, kind, brave and caring person and she deserves the world. *sobs*
The Red Sleeve
The Red Sleeve is one of the most hyped kdramas of the last months and definitely worthy of the hype! It tells the story of a historical romance set in the Joseon era between crown prince Yi San and court lady Deok-Im. It’s a super emotional story in which we see the love and longing Yi San has for Deok Im. But while she may share his feelings, she’s also adamant to live her life in her own way and has no desire to become a concubine with all the restrictions that life would entail. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Also, did you know this was actually based on real-life characters and events?
I’ve still been mostly working at home this month as the pandemic is still in full force here in Belgium. But so far, me and my close family have been staying corona-free so that’s good. Though it’s really everywhere, so sometimes I think it can only be a matter of time… It is starting to get a lot closer and people I know have been getting sick… though thankfully no one has had really bad symptoms. I did get my booster shot this month so at least that’s good! Fingers crossed this pandemic will just finally be over soon.
Things that made me happy this month:
- The fact that I had such a great reading month, after a slumpy few months.
- Tv nights with the hubby (we watched another kdrama together, I love it)
- My buddy re-read of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas in prep for the sequel releasing next month. It’s been so fun and I loved being reminded that I adored this book.
THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:
- House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas releasing!
- My dating anniversary with the hubby!
- Umm… a short month so we’re quickly closer to springtime?
How was your January? What did you read? What did you listen to and what did you watch? What are you looking forward to in February?
Ugh season 6 of Buffy always makes me depressed. Tara 🙁
I know, those episodes are so depressing! I love Tara so much, definitely sobbed during this rewatch.
Yay! I’m glad you had an awesome reading month. Happy February!
Thanks so much, AJ!
Hooray for a great reading month! I hope it continues into February! I hear ya on the spread of COVID. We were having crazy numbers here too and it just seems like the odds are not good that we will avoid it forever. But, fingers crossed! That’s great that you were able to get the booster. I finally got my second shot.
Thanks, Angela! Glad to hear you got your second shot, that’ll probably feel like a relief? I know, the odds don’t seem in our favor to be able to avoid covid forever, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed!
I’m happy January was such a good reading month for you. I hope the slump stays away.
My family hasn’t had covid yet, but I feel like it’s a matter of time. We keep hearing of so many people we know who are going through it. Some not as badly as others. Stay well and have a great February!
Thanks so much! I hope the slump stays away too, they always make me feel so lost and I hate it.
I feel like a lot of people are indeed now feeling like it’s only a matter of time when it comes to getting covid. My sister-in law and her family just got it last week, but luckily their symptoms have been very mild. It’s getting so close though and that’s still scary. Let’s hope we all stay healthy!
Yay for reading! I am glad you had such a good January reading wise, Lindsey. Your Can’t Wait books all look so tempting. Tara was such a great Buffy character. She was my favorite. Restrictions are starting to ease in my part of the world as the worst seems to have passed (for now, anyway).The last time the indoor mask mandate (for the vaccinated) was lifted I continued to wear mine and I probably will this time too. I’m just glad the schools aren’t rushing to end the school mask mandate yet. I hope you have a great week!
Thanks so much!
Yay for the Tara love, she was indeed such a great and underrated character.
I’ll probably also keep wearing my mask a bit longer even when the mandate is lifted – it’ll take me a while to even feel comfortable again without it anyway.