My 12 January Reads: Lots of Fantasy

Twelve books read. No wonder I didn't get more writing done... This January, I was on vacation for a few days. That's when most of this reading happened. And it was SO nice to just focus on enjoying some escapist fiction - also known as fiction NOT in the genre in which I write. Don't get me wrong. I love a good Regency romance. I just need a break every once in a while. I don't have time to tell you ALL about what I read. But I can list them in order and tell you which ones were my favorites. 

Top Four: The Bestest Books EVERYONE Must Read: Only Ever Friends by Shaela Kay (Contemporary Romance, Friends-to-True-Love, and a NEW FAVORITE - so good) Queen's Crown by K.M. Shea (Third book in this Urban-Fantasy series - but SO GOOD. Read the OTHER TWO first.) Persuading the Captain by Rachel John (Modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, and well done!)Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater (A Regency Fantasy - quite a delightful escape in a still-familiar setting.)
In no particular order, the other books I read (with brief notes) are as follows: Wraith, The Scarred Mage of Roseward #3 by Sylvia Mercedes (conclusion to trilogy, and pretty good overall - a twist on Beauty and the Beast I've never seen before)Of Goblins and Gold by Emma Hamm (Great for those who love the Labyrinth and the confusion/topsy-turvy worlds of Alice in Wonderland)The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (I wanted to like this one more, after LOVING her previous series, but I'm not there yet)A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova (A pretty good arranged marriage story, got a touch steamy, but left me with lots of questions)The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Okay, I sort-of get the hype. I need to read the next one to decide if it's a favorite, though)Fierce Heart by Tara Grayce (A clean arranged-marriage book, but I've got a lot of questions) Sinister Magic by Lindsay Buroker (Steamy urban fantasy, billed as romance but is it really? I read the first four books of the series and called it done, even though there are more. Dragon shifters involved.)Thorn of Rose by Emily Deady (A pretty good Beauty and the Beast retelling that tried some new things for the tale as old as time - and I enjoyed it) Did you read anything amazing in January 2021?