January 2022 Book Haul

I am going to try [again] to separate these posts. So that way I can more easily track them. With that said, don't be surprised if I forget things. It has been known to happen. With no further adieu, let us get into it~ 

I've acquired 2 books through various means in January: 

1. Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan - I saw this in a BookTube video, and when I heard the synopsis, I just had to have it. When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her lethal magical abilities. But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined. It also just makes me laugh finding a second book by an Asian author where the main male character is named Altan (see: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang). I picked up this one on audio and hope to either start it in January or use it as February's audiobook. 

2. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim - I am already familiar with, though have never read, this novel's source inspiration, the Six Swans by the Brothers Grimm. We follow Shiori'anma as she has to break the curse placed upon her brothers all while not uttering a single word. It combines elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, which means I am likely to enjoy this as I love fairy tales and folk legends. I'm looking forward to listening to this one as well!

3. The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis - January's Book of the Month pick. This one had strong vibes making me think of another BotM pick from 2021, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. We follow two timelines that both involve the infamous murder of someone in the Frick family. I thought the cover was pretty and as I am wanting to branch out a little from my obsession with sword and sorceries, this seemed like a good option.

4. The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski - I finished Blood of Elves and absolutely could not contain myself until I got the second (and third) volumes in the series. I was excited to see it right out in the front of the store. This one just continues the story from where the first left off, so there isn't much I can really say about it. 

5. Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski - The third book in the popular Witcher series. I can't really say much other than it picks up where volume two leaves off, sort of. I grabbed it while I saw it and had the money. I'm enjoying my read of the series so far and am looking forward to making it to this one. 

6. Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer - I have never read a Brigid Kemmerer book. I'm pretty sure this is the only one I even own. However, when I saw the synopsis (and maybe the cover), I just had to have it. It looks intriguing and reminds me of the newer Tangled movie where everyone was after this specific flower. 

7. Kharis by Sarah Kate Istra Winter - This one I have literally no idea about. It was a Yule gift from a friend of mine. She and I are both Hellenic pagans, she more practicing than I, but I adore the fact that she thought of me and got me this book for Yule. I'd been meaning to ask her if I could borrow her copy and it's like she read my mind. I'm looking forward to reading this and learning more about the faith. 

8. The Library Book by Susan Orlean - I heard about this book a few years ago on BookTube and it looked interesting. I had to snap it up when I saw it at Ollie's for only $3.99. Who wouldn't snatch it? It's a nonfiction about libraries and the library fire in the LA Public Library and the aftermath of it. I'm looking forward to this one, too. 

9. Ascension of Larks by Rachel Linden - The synopsis looked interesting. A woman is in love with a man who is married to her best friend. When the man dies, she goes to comfort the grieving widow. Some not good things happen that bring family secrets to light that should have stayed in the dark. That's literally all I know, and I'm curious to know what happens next. 

10. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - Again, I heard about this book on BookTube and thought it sounded intriguing. I've read the source material, Jane Eyre, in the past, and I believe that book is mentioned in this one, but I'm not sure. In either event it looked amusing and I wanted to know what the hype was all about back in 2016-2017.

11. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald - It is about books and readers and was cheap. What can I say? It's about a young foreign woman who opens a bookshop with the remains of her late friend's personal library. It's a contemporary book that just speaks to me. 

12. Reverie by Ryan La Sala - I saw it and it was something from another BookTube video that sparked a memory. I thought it seemed interesting and is one of those parallel worlds books. Since it was fairly cheap, I grabbed it. I know next to nothing about it, only what the synopsis says and that alone had me curious enough to nearly start reading right there in the store.