Monthly Wrap-Up | January 2021

Hello and welcome to 2021!

Congratulations! You made it through the first month of 2021. For me, this past month was more of the same: reading, working, and watching Survivor.

Since last summer, my husband and I have been watching Survivor. We are currently watching season 22. Despite every season being essentially the same thing, Survivor is easily one of the most addicting shows I’ve ever watched. Good thing there’s 40 seasons.

Last year, I read one Karin Slaughter novel a month and it was fabulous. This year, I thought I would be ambitious and read one Diana Gabaldon and one Robin Hobb novel a month. A fairly robust goal since those novels tend to be on the chunkier side. I was successful this month, though now my goal is now in jeopardy. I didn’t enjoy Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon as much as I thought I would, so I may hold off on reading the third novel until March. I don’t want to force it and make myself dislike it more. Also, I’m ordering the Robin Hobb novels from Book Depository and shipping to Canada takes FOREVER. So, my reading schedule depends entirely on them.

During the month of January, I read 8 books.

So, here are some stats!

Number of pages read: 3882
Number of print books: 5
Number of e-books: 3
Favourite quote of the month: 

“When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool you end up looking like a moron instead.” – Assassin’s Apprentice

<

Without further ado…. here is my favourite books of the month from differing genres.

The Silent Wife (Will Trent #10) is an excellent instalment that allows readers to see another side of the characters previously unseen. It also gives readers more insight into Lena and Jeffrey.

Five Stars

<

Hollow Empire (Poison War #2) is a fantastic sequel and conclusion to this duology. Though I wish the magic system and villain were expanded upon further, Poison War offers readers plenty of mystery and political intrigue to keep them reading into the night.

Four Stars

<

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

<

Dragonfly in Amber was disappointing to say the least. It was hard to get through since most of the novel was just plain boring.

Assassin’s Apprentice is a phenomenal start to a fantasy trilogy that will leave you clamoring for more. It’s also one of those novels where the more you think of it after you’ve finished, the more you find yourself enjoying it. On to the next!

You Love Me (You#3) is a return to form for those who disliked Hidden Bodies. It recaptures the magic of the first novel while delivering a fresh take on this very familiar story.

Condemned to Love strikes a good balance between the harsh life of the mafia with a sensual romance. Davis knows how to push her characters to the edge without losing them to an irredeemable darkness.

Light of the Jedi is a missed opportunity. It’s too big a story that tried to focus on everything as opposed to bringing the story down to a character level so that readers could explore the world and plot through specific characters’ emotions and experiences.

The Invitation is a fun and sexy romance. Despite its use of a trope I dislike, I thought it fit the story well.

<

Have you read any of these? What did you think? What did you read in the month of January?