Book Review: Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough

Title: Blood Water {aint Written by: Mimi Yu Published: March 6, 2018 by Dutton Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A debut novel based on the true story of the iconic painter, Artemisia Gentileschi.  Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.   She chose paint.  By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.  He will not consume  my every thought.  I am a painter.  I will paint.  I will show you  what a woman can do.

I was very interested in reading his book when it came out last year but I shy away from novels in verse so I didn’t read it. But I needed a new audiobook and when I saw this from the library, I am glad I picked it up because it wasn’t an easy read but it was a really good read.

Wow, this book did not shy away from some of the worst aspects of what it meant to be a woman during this period of history. It really goes there when it comes to abuse and sexual assault. One of the more interesting things is that it not only showed the actual sexual assault but the lead up to it and the impact it had on the character's life. And the saddest thing is that it is based on a real person and the main plot points actually happened to her. It was tough to read at times, but also still very empowering.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was the agency she gave her main character. Artemisia is a historical figure I knew very little about and now I am really glad to know her. She is the kind of female character I always enjoy because she showed tremendous strength in the face of some of the worst possible adversity. It was easy to root for Artemisia and to want her to triumph over the men who mistreated her in the worst possible way.

But the author’s gorgeous writing was a much needed contrast with the brutal subject matter. This my first novel in verse and I honestly don't know what my hang up with the format was before. Now, I did listen to this as an audiobook so I don't know what it would be like in a written format but this definitely worked. At times I often found myself forgetting it wasn't a traditional novel. It just gave the book a poetic flow that added some needed beauty and depth to the more difficult subject matter.

This book is not for the faint of heart but it is a great read and one that I wish didn’t feel so current. It is a feminist and empowering piece of historical fiction perfect for the MeToo era.

I give Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you like historical fiction or are looking for an issue book, I would definitely recommend this one. It doesn't sugar coat some serious things women experienced throughout history and are still experiencing today.

Have you read Blood Water Paint? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Mini Reviews: January Reads

Hi Everyone, It has been a rough winter for me in terms of blogging. You may not have noticed that I barely posted in December, but I basically didn't post anything. I mean I used to post four times a week and in December I only posted four times. And honestly, January was not most better. If you saw my January wrap up you know that I was reading a lot but not doing much blogging. What that means is that I have this massive backlog of books I have not reviewed yet.

It kind of feels like I will never be able to catch up with everything I want to review, but I do have the desire to catch up. So with that in mind, I wanted to post the books I read last month that I didn't review. But full reviews would just get me further behind so instead I thought I would post mini reviews. I usually only do this when I DNF a book but let's try it for books I finished. Here we go...

Title: The Girl King Series: The Girl King #1 Author: Mimi Yu Published: January 8, 2018 by Bloomsbury YA (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: Two sisters become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor in this sweeping tale of ambition, sacrifice and betrayal for readers of Sabaa Tahir and Alwyn Hamilton.  All hail the Girl King.  Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty's first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead—a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.  Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally—and an army—if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved…  Alone in the volatile court, Min's hidden power awakens—a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set's reign…or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters' greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.

My Thoughts:

I was super excited to read an Asian-inspired fantasy about two sisters with political intrigue. I picked up a copy of this one at ALA and I had heard some good reviews from blogger friends so I was excited to read this one. It was a good read but it didn't blow me away.

One of the best things about this book was the world. It is a world full of magical and political intrigue, two things that I love in my YA fantasy. The magical system was really cool and we only really scratched the surface with it. I think there is a lot more to learn. As far as the political intrigue I think this honestly was less about the sisters and more about the larger politics of the world, which I was fine with.

I do think however the characters were a little lacking. I enjoyed Lu was probably my favorite of the sisters, which is a surprise because Min is usually the type of female character I enjoy. But Lu just felt a little more flushed out. Min fell incredibly flat for me until the very end.

Speaking of the end, I think this book just had a little bit of first book syndrome. It built to an exciting conclusion with some surprising twists along the way but it took awhile to get interesting.

Title: Space Opera Author: Cathrynne M. Valente Published:  October 4, 2018 by Saga Press (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible) Synopsis: IN SPACE EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SING  A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented-something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding.  Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.  This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny - they must sing.  A one-hit-wonder band of human musicians, dancers and roadies from London - Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes - have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.

My Thoughts:

I actually bought this shortly after it came out last fall but I never read it. Then I was looking for a new audiobook I saw this one and thought it might be a good opportunity to read it. Especially because in January I was really loving science fiction books. So I bought the audio and am so glad I did because this was great.

For one thing, this is a weird little book. I feel like only a very specific reader will enjoy Space Opera. It's one of those strange irreverent books which doesn't take it self very seriously and for a reader who is looking for a book that is intense and gripping, they will find this one strange and frustrating. It also plays a lot with sci-fi tropes and pokes some fun at them which I really enjoyed. It was very reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It had that same kind of tone.

The other thing that I think made me enjoy this book so much is that I listened to the audio. It was the kind of book that worked so well in an audio format. The narrator did a great job selling some of the jokes that probably would have fallen flat in writing. He also really went for it with some of the accents which added a lot to the characters, who were one of the major things about this book that made it so quirky.

This is definitely my find of read. It's weird and strange but had lots of thrills and so much humor that I could help but laugh at how absurd it was. Definitely one of the strangest books I have read in awhile and I mean that in the best possible way.

Title: Dark Triumph Series: His Fair Assassins #2 Author: Robin LaFevers Published: April 2, 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: I lean forward, pushing my body out past the battlements. The wind plucks at my cloak, buffets against me, as if it would carry me off in flight, just like the birds or the knight's soul. Let go, it cries, I will take you far, far away. I want to laugh at the exhilarating feeling, I will catch you, it whistles seductively.  The convent has returned Sybella to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

My Thoughts:

I technically read this book in December but I didn't feel like I could review Mortal Heart without also giving my thoughts on this one. I have been wanting to finish this series for quite awhile but with Courting Darkness coming out I finally had the kick in the pants I needed.

Sybella's story was probably the hardest to read of the three. She has a real tortured past and this book did not shy away from that. It showed the reader in heartbreaking detail what Sybella had been through before she arrived at the convent and then thrust her back into the clutches of those people. Because of this she was easy to root for and want to see get justice. But I love that she is still a caring and kind woman. Sybella has a lot of depth and that made this book all the more enjoyable.

This book is also a really great example of what I love in historical fiction. It takes a lesser known location and/or period of time and inhabits it with new and engaging characters. There is a ton of political intrigue and adventure, honestly more than I was expecting, which I loved. Not to mention this is a book that does a great job establishing it's time and place while still feeling important and modern.

I can understand why so many people love this series. It's a fantastic piece pf historical fiction with a subtle fantasy element and great characters. I am excited to see what is next for Sybella and Beast in Courting Darkness.

Title: Mortal Heart  Series: His Fair Assassins #3 Author: Robin LaFevers Published: November 4, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.  She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

My Thoughts:

I already talked about my history with this book above, but I ended up getting the audio for my drive home from Christmas break and I didn't end up finishing it until later into January. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, just because of my reading slump and I wanted to enjoy it.

What was struck me about this book is that it had a lot more fantasy and religious elements than I was expecting. The first two books established the idea of Death and his handmaidens but this book really elaborated on that. We learned a lot more about Mortain and his convent. I found this incredibly interesting and it was a great addition to the final book in the series.

Annith was also a really interesting character. She's someone who has always excelled at everything she has done but never got much recognition for that. Usually I wouldn't like a character who is perfect because they can come off as a Mary Sue but Annith never did. I actually wanted her to get her dues and triumph over the Reverend Mother who was a complex antagonist that I kind of hated.

However, this was not my favorite book in the series. I think that is because I found it a little predictable. Some of the big twists in this book seemed incredibly obvious to me. They didn't have the desired effect on me because of that. Plus I found the ending a little rushed. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read I think I just liked the other two better.

There you have it, mini reviews on the books I didn't review in late December and January. I am not completely caught up with reviews but I am in a much better place. Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ships That Melted My Romancephobic Heart

A weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

1.) Ronan and Adam in The Raven Cycle by Maggie Steifvater
I wasn't initially a Pynch shipper but when I fell, I fell hard. I wanted those two to get together for like three books and when they finally did I was over the moon.

2.) Kaz and Inej in Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Talk about a slowburn. These two had me wanting them to get together for so long that even them holding hands felt like the sweetest and most romantic thing.

3.) Simon and Blue in Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I don't read a lot of contemporary romances but this is one of my favorites. Simon and Blue are so cute and I loved the fact that there was a bit of a mystery so the reveal of Blue was all the more sweet.

4.) Lara Jean and Peter K in To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han
This is another one of my favorite contemporary. It's actually one of the most perfect one in my opinion. What I love about this relationship is that it's not perfect which made it all the more sweet.

5.) Audrey Rose and Thomas in Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
I am a huge fan of this series and the characters are one of the reasons is these characters. I love their romance and their banter is top notch. They also have this mutual respect that makes me so happy.

6.) Vin and Elend in Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
This is a relationship that didn't really melt my heart but it is one of my favorites ships. The way their relationship gives me the feels every time.

7.) Chubs and Vida in The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
This is another ship that didn't melt my heart as much as it made me smile. I shipped these two from the very beginning because their banter was so perfect. I was so happy when their ship sailed.

8.) Eliot and Luke from In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
This is probably the most resent book I read which made this list. But it's rare for me to fall this hard into a ship so I had to add it and I wanted to smoosh their faces together.

9.) David and Megan in The Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson
The only repeat on this list but I love these two so much and I really wanted to add it to the list.

10.) Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I'm adding this one to the list because it's so rare for me to ship a couple that is actually endgame, especially in a YA like The Hunger Games which is so popular and beloved in the community.

11.) Like Every Ship Rainbow Rowell Has Ever Written 
I say this at first I was going to add Cath and Levi but then I remembered Simon and Baz which also made me remember Eleanor and Park. Basically Rainbow Rowell knows how to write a great ship. I mean even her Runaways comics are full of great ships.

12.) Like Every Ship Gail Carriger Has Ever Written
I was originally going to Alexia and Lord Maccon but then I remembered Rue and Quensel but also Prim has a great ship too in the Custard Protocol. Also Sophronia and Soap! Seriously, I love every romance in Gail's books.

Review: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Title: King of Scars Series: Nikolai Duology #1 Written by: Leigh Bardugo Published: January 29, 2019 by Imprint (Macmillain) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.   Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

When I finished this book, I was still completely in shock from it. I loved The Grisha trilogy when I read it back before Ruin and Rising came out and since then I have been totally in love with this world and everything Leigh rights. So when I heard she was fighting a series about Nikolai I was so excited. And this book did not disappoint. It was a gripping and amazing read.

One of the things that excited me most about this book was the characters. In this one we are able to catch back up not only with characters from the original Grisha trilogy but also Six of Crows. I loved being able to catch back up with Genya, David, Tolya, Tamar... the list goes on and on. It felt like falling back into the original series. But the real best characters are the narrators. There are alternating perspectives between Nina from Six of Crows, Zoya from Shadow and Bone, and of course Nikolai from the original trilogy. Nina I loved in Six of Crows and being able to see her deal with what happened in that book was amazing and heartbreaking. She is one of the strongest characters both physically and emotionally. Nikolai was maybe my favorite secondary character in the original trilogy. I am also down for a lovable rogue and he fit the bill. He’s smart and charming but he’s also complex and very brooding in this book. You get to see him at his best and his worst.

But the best main character in this book, and the one who I think deserve a whole new paragraph, is Zoya. Zoya is a pretty minor character in the original trilogy. She’s sort of a foil for Alina and honestly didn’t make much of an impression. But in this book she made a huge impression and in the best possible way. She’s everything I love in a badass female character. She’s tough and ballsy, but also vulnerable and brash. Zoya is a total sass factory and her banter with Nikolai is on point. But she’s also this freaking amazing Grisha that reminded me of the perfect combination of Azula and Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender. And not only did she have great development, but we learn a lot more about her back story in this book which made her even more sympathetic. I cannot speak highly enough about Zoya. She’s freaking amazing in this book.

The real amazing thing in this book is the plot. Leigh really knows how to tell a story. Her books have always had incredibly intricate plots and this was no exception. It really built to a thrilling conclusion with s twists and surprises that had me so shocked that when I finished I was left string at my book for fifteen minutes unable to come to terms with what had happened. It had a very mean cliffhanger too that has be wanting book two immediately. There are a lot of moving parts to this story and Leigh handles them with care and ease but I do feel a little bit like it is incomplete. The actual story of this book resolved despite the cliffhanger but it didn’t all come together. I know it’s all connected and I feel those connections falling into place but they didn’t actually do that yet. And for me, this made the book feel a little lacking. I’m tough on books with multiple perspectives though so it could just be a person preference.

What did work with the multiple perspectives was the world. What I love about this world is that after five books (six of you count Language of Thorns) it is both familiar and new at the same time. Being familiar with everything I can just dive back into it without needing an explanation about what is happening. Leigh can show us instead of tell about everything, which is something she does really well. But at the same time we are learning new things about the history and religion of the world. Not to mention all the political intrigue and plotting. It all worked together to further develop a world and magical system that I already love and am excited to learn more about.

All and all, this book was so amazing. It once again showcased what an amazing fantasy writer Leigh Bardugo is. She has crafted a thrilling story with an intriguing world and complex characters that I fell further in love with.

I give King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! It’s a must read for fans of her work and if you like fantasy and have not read Leigh Bardugo, change that immediately!

Have you read King of Scars? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: The Everlasting Rose Series: The Belles #2 Written by: Dhonielle Clayton Published: March 5, 2019 by Freeform (Disney Book Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia's Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies-a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely-and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider's Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans.

 
Why I'm Waiting:

I was late to the party with The Belles because I was trying to avoid some of the hype and I honestly regretted it because this book was amazing! I will not be late when it comes to the sequel. I have been desperately wanting to read this book since I read The Belles.

One of my favorite things about The Belles was the world. It is one of the most creative magical systems I have read in awhile so I cannot wait to find out more about it. I know there are going to be some big information revealed based on the way the last book ended. I am also really interested in exploring the larger setting of this world which is a classic series thing to do. I'm ready to explore!

I am also really interested in just reconnecting with these characters. I loved Camille in the first book and the secondary characters were even more interesting. I can't wait to find out what is going to happen to them especially because I know there will be more reveals.

I am very excited to read this book. I can't wait to get a copy when it comes out next month. It is one of my most anticipated sequels. I will probably end up listening to the audiobook because it's narrated by Bahni Turpin and I really like her as a narrator, plus the audio on the first one was so good.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on The Everlasting Rose along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Upcoming Releases I Am on the Fence About Reading

A weekly meme by That Artsy Reader Girl

I decided to take a little bit of a different tact for this one. Because it's not like there are books that I'm not sure about adding to my TBR. But there are books I want to read but I am not sure I will have the time to read. So that is the list you are all getting today, the books I want to read but am on the fence about because there are so many books and so little time.

1.) The Deceivers by Kristen Simmons - Add to Goodreads
I feel really bad about this one. I feel like every year I want to read a Kristen Simmons book and I always bump it because it comes out when a bunch of other highly anticipated books come out. But this one sounds so good, so maybe.

2.) Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller - Add to Goodreads
A Viking-inspired fantasy is a definite add to the TBR. But when the book comes out at the end of February I am not sure if I will be able to read it.

3.) The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon - Add to Goodreads
I love Samantha Shannon and this book sounds amazing but it's also incredibly long. I want to listen to the audiobook but I'm not sure I can devote the 45 hours it will take.

4.) Beware the Night by Jessika Fleck - Add to Goodreads
Asian-inspired fantasies are big right now and I am very interested in reading as many of them as possible. But that still means there will be a lot I don't get to read

5.) Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith - Add to Goodreads
This debut is totally up my alley. It's a fairy tale retelling with a mystery and an epic fantasy setting. But it comes out in early March and so do a lot of other books I want to read.

6.) The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala - Add to Goodreads
This is another Asian-inspired fantasy, this one I think is Indian-inspired. But again, I can't read them all and so I think I might have to skip this one.

7.) A Place for the Wolves by Kosoko Jackson - Add to Goodreads
This is one of the books on the list I am most likely to read because I actually have a review copy of it and it's a historical thriller with LGBT themes.

8.) The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Antsey - Add to Goodreads
This is such a me book. It's a historical mystery set in the 19th century and that cover is just gorgeous. But I don't know if I will be able to buy a copy. We'll see. I really want to read it.

9.) Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody - Add to Goodreads
I have heard really good things about Jessica Brody but I haven't been super interested in reading her books. But this one is sci-fi and I have been all about YA science fiction lately so maybe that will give me the push I need.

10.) Once and Future by Amy Rose Cepetta and Cori McCarthy - Add to Goodreads
This is a debut I am very excited to read. It's a lesbian King Arthur retelling in space. I hope I have the time to read it.

There you have it. All the books I want to read but I am not sure if I will have the time. Have you read any of these? Should I make sure I have time to read any of them. What books made your list? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

January Wrap Up and February TBR

Read in January: Science Fiction

I have been going through a pretty serious blogging slump lately and it has made me super behind on basically everything including reviews and my monthly wrap up. But I wanted to start the year off with a little bit more accountability and responsibility. Plus, I wanted to brag a little bit because I have not been going through a reading slump this month. December was rough but I am definitely back on track. Because, you guys, I read 16 books this month. SIX-TEEN! And only a quarter of them were comics. I am completely back on track with my reading and hoping to continue that in February.

For challenges, this year I'm low key doing challenges. The only one I am legit doing is how many books in a year. I set a Goodreads goal of reading 150 books in a year. My original goal last year was 150 but I had to lower it so I want to make that happen this year.  For the rest of the challenges I only low key set them. I want to read 20 debuts this year and I read 2 this month which is on track for the year. I haven't really been reading e-books lately but I did get approved for a good amount on Netgalley so I need to hold myself accountable. I want to read 15 books this year. I read two this month so I might be able to do better with this in 2019. I also want to read 20 backlist books. This month I read 3 backlist books which means that I am on track for this one as well.

The Books

1.) Runaways Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever by Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka 
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
2.) Ski Weekend by R.L. Stine Rating: 6 out of 10 [Podcast Review]
3.)  White Stag by Kara Barbieri Rating: 7 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers Rating: 9 out of 10 [Review to Come]
5.) In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [My Review]
6.) The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi Rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars [My Review]
7.) Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Rating: 9.5 out of 10
8.) From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) Giant Days: Early Registration by John Allison Rating: 8.5 out of 10
10.) Sage Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Rating: 9.5 out of 10
11.) Skyward by Brandon Sanderson Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
12.) Saga Vol. 7 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Rating: 9 out of 10
13.) Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [My Review]
 14.) The Girl King by Mimi Yu Rating: 8 out of 10 [Review to Come]
15.) Double Date by R.L. Stine Rating 5 out of 10 [Podcast Website]
16.) Space Opera by Cathrynne M. Valente Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [Review to Come]

To Be Read in February: Historical Fiction/FRANCE!

And here is hoping that I can continue the strong reading month. A ton of really great books are coming our this month, including a few I have been waiting on for years. I am hoping to read at least a dozen books this month. And I am also bringing back the monthly themes. I looked at the books I read last month and I basically did a sci-fi month and then realized I was planning on reading mostly historical fiction and even a few set in France.

Books for Review

Dark of the West by Joanna Hathway - Add to Goodreads
I received an advance copy of this from the publisher and I started reading it but put it down because King of Scars came out and I'm sorry all other books, Nikolai comes first. But I do want to finish it.

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers - Add to Goodreads
I read the first book in this series ages ago because I heard good things and I was not disappointed. But I didn't complete the series until last month in preparation for this book.

Enchantee by Gita Trelease - Add to Goodreads
I am so excited that Paris is having a moment in YA literature because I have been wanting more Parisian historical fiction for years now. And this is a magical version of the French Revolution. GIMME!

Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok - Add to Goodreads
Another historical Paris, this time the Belle Epoque and a murder mystery with a magical element. Like seriously, it's the most Cassi book.

Immoral Code by Lilian Clark - Add to Goodreads
In case I need a break from the historical fantasy and high fantasy, I have this YA mystery/thriller to break up the monotony.

The Fever King by Victoria Lee - Add to Goodreads

This is technically a March release but it is one of the Kindle First Reads this month and there is almost never one of those I want to read so when I saw this I snatched it up.

New Releases

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - Add to Goodreads

New Grishverse book... THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I got this book last week when I went to Leigh's signing in Boston and I have been reading it all weekend!

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas - Add to Goodreads
I plan to listen to this audiobook (it's narrated by Bahni Turpin who is amazing and narrated The Hate U Give). It comes out tomorrow and I plan to get it then.

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard - Add to Goodreads
I have been waiting for this book to come out for two years and it is almost here! Susan is coming t Boston in a few weeks and I am planning on being at here event to meet her and get all my books signed.

Backlist Books

Blood Water Paint by Jody McCullough - Add to Goodreads

I have wanted to read this book for awhile but then I heard it is a novel in verse and lost some interest. But I saw the audiobook from the library and decided to take a chance. I'm glad I did because I am actually enjoying it.

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry - Add to Goodreads
This is another book I have been wanting to read for ages and even tried once but I never did. But I want to make a concerted effort this month.

There you have it. Some of the books I hope to read in January. As always, these are subject to change. I may read all of these or I may only read a few and then read a bunch of different ones. But honestly I think this list I can stick to. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!