January TBR and Progress Updates

[Dani, Challenge Host]

What are you planning to read this month? Share your chosen series.

[Lucy]

I think I'm going to read the Truthwitch for my first series in 2018! There's only two books out and I have access to both of them so at least it'll be manageable.

[Dannii]

I'm thinking of starting with either City of Bones or An Ember in the Ashes.

[Irina]

I'm planning to read The Lunar Chronicles! (Which I couldn't resist and have already started haha)

[Sarah]

Oh Truthwitch is a good idea since I think I just bought both of those from book outlet. I'll make that mine for January as well.

[Dani, Challenge Host]

Lucy wrote: "I think I'm going to read the Truthwitch for my first series in 2018! There's only two books out and I have access to both of them so at least it'll be manageable."

I have the first book but haven't read it. I'm a bit scared to? It's been so hyped.

Dannii wrote: "I'm thinking of starting with either City of Bones or An Ember in the Ashes."

YES! EMBER! I love that series!

Irina wrote: "I'm planning to read The Lunar Chronicles! (Which I couldn't resist and have already started haha)"

That's on my list for the year, too, since I have the complete series in paperback!

[Sabrina]

I am planning to read the Rebel of the Sands books!

[Lucy]

Dani wrote: "Lucy wrote: "I think I'm going to read the Truthwitch for my first series in 2018! There's only two books out and I have access to both of them so at least it'll be manageable."

I ..."

I know what you mean! The hype is so massive I feel like I have to like them, which is never a good way to go into a book.

Sarah wrote: "Oh Truthwitch is a good idea since I think I just bought both of those from book outlet. I'll make that mine for January as well."

I thought it was a good series to start with only two books!

[Sarah]

Lucy wrote: "I thought it was a good series to start with only two books!"

Two books is a good start goal for me as well. Plus if I like them, it's just in time for Sightwitch coming out in February!

[Debbie]

I'm three books into the Skulduggery Pleasant series and I'd love to make some progress on this in January! I also have Isla and the Happily Ever After which will finish off that sort-of-series.

[Sarah]

Debbie wrote: "I'm three books into the Skulduggery Pleasant series and I'd love to make some progress on this in January! I also have Isla and the Happily Ever After which will finish off that sort-of-series."

I've had the first Skulduggery book checked out from the library for months now (I just keep renewing the thing ha) and really have been meaning to read it. I think January is going to be its month!

[Lucy]

Sarah wrote: "Lucy wrote: "I thought it was a good series to start with only two books!"

Two books is a good start goal for me as well. Plus if I like them, it's just in time for Sightwitch coming out in February!"

I didn't realise the next book in the series is out in February! That is nice, if unintentional, timing.

[Sarah]

If I understand correctly it's not a standard sequel book, but like a 2.5 in the series and is more of a journal format? Though I haven't actually read any of her books yet, I follow the author on Instagram because I like her, so I've seen her mention it.

[Reuben]

I’m thinking probably The Next Together / The Last Beginning by Lauren James. Start off nice and easy with a duology and then I’ll work my way up to tackling the big fantasy series I have on my shelf. :P

[Alex(Books-In-A-Storm)]

I'm going to read Beyond the spiderwick chronicles

[Tina]

I'm planning on reading The Beaumont Series by Heidi McLaughlin

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

I am finally going to be reading The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare!

[Tabatha -]

For this month I have started reading the Gaming the System series! So far I have read Book 1 & 2 and am working on Book 3! I am going to finish out the series with all 5 :)

Here are the links for all 5
At Any Price -- READ
At Any Turn -- READ
At Any Moment -- READ
For the Win -- Starting Now 1/17
Worth Any Cost

[Kris]

Irina wrote: "I'm planning to read The Lunar Chronicles! (Which I couldn't resist and have already started haha)"

I adore the Lunar Chronicles. : )

[Kris]

I have started reading the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo.
Also, I couldn't resist starting The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris.
So far, so good.
I'm loving both of the series, yeet!

[Irina]

Krista wrote: "Irina wrote: "I'm planning to read The Lunar Chronicles! (Which I couldn't resist and have already started haha)"

I adore the Lunar Chronicles. : )"

I finished the main 4 books and I love them! I see why it had so much hype :) Also I really want to read the Grisha trilogy at some point, let me know how you find it!

[Dannii]

I changed my reading a little for this month and ended up picking The Raven Boys. I have 100 pages left of the first book and I am OBSESSED! I fully understand the hype and can't wait to binge this series.

[Lucy]

I finally finished Truthwitch! It started off a little slow and I'm pretty sure it does not need to be that long, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and I'm looking forward to reading Windwitch, though I'm not sure I'll be able to get to it by the end of January.

[Marie]

I read the Six of Crows duology this month! Both of my reviews have been posted now:
Six of Crows: https://amandagernentzhanson.com/2018...
Crooked Kingdom: https://amandagernentzhanson.com/2018...

[Kris]

Irina wrote: "Krista wrote: "Irina wrote: "I'm planning to read The Lunar Chronicles! (Which I couldn't resist and have already started haha)"

I adore the Lunar Chronicles. : )"

I finished the main 4 books and..."

The Grisha verse is phenomenal. Even with the romance (which is an immense turn off for me), it rocks.

[Kris]

I finally got around to The Grisha verse by Bardugo and The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris.
Grisha is serious and dramatic and world shattering.

Squire's Tale is fun, adventurous, snarky, and sarcastic to the nth degree. Arthurian comedy rocks and rolls.

[Sarah]

I also finished Truthwitch, but didn't make it to Windwitch before the month was over. I did quite like Truthwitch, at a probably 3.5 star level. The highlights for me were definitely the two main female characters, their friendship, and the world and magic. The points I didn't love were basically Merik, was not a fan, and the relationships (friendship and romantic) between him and other characters were just a big miss for me. But I'm still very interested in the larger scope of what's going on in the world and am looking forward to the next book.

[Lucy]

Sarah wrote: "I also finished Truthwitch, but didn't make it to Windwitch before the month was over. I did quite like Truthwitch, at a probably 3.5 star level. The highlights for me were definitely the two main ..."

I completely understand what you mean about Merik, he really wasn't my favourite character and the romance with him was not to my taste. So much of his characterisation was about how he would sacrifice anything from his crew which I didn't find that admirable considering he was prepared to sacrifice the two main characters to do so.

[Sarah]

Lucy wrote: "I completely understand what you mean about Merik, he really wasn't my favourite character and the romance with him was not to my taste. So much of his characterisation..."

Yeah, Safi was similar in beginning--that she also didn't care about others if it meant saving Iseult--but the difference in her case is I felt the personal connection between the two of them and it felt genuine. Merik on the other hand, he did a lot of talking about caring for his crew, but I felt we rarely actually saw him doing anything caring/didn't see the personal connections, so it missed the mark for me. We mostly get him thinking about refraining himself from having sex with Safi. Eyeroll. (maybe spare a thought about whether Safi would want to have sex with you first bro) And while Safi's character grows, I didn't feel like we got that from Merik.