January 2023 Book Haul

I fully intend to actually try to keep up with the hauls this year. I know I'm not very good at it, but it's something that makes me happy. In any event, I've acquired 18 book so far this year. 

1. The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne - A friend bought this for me in audio, so we could listen to it together. So far it's actually pretty good. I think this is the kind of book that I'd rather read in print, because of how much is just going on. There is a lot to keep track of. I'm definitely looking forward to finishing it though and seeing if I want to continue on with the next volume. 

2. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - I had a copy from Kindle Unlimited that has since been returned, but when I saw this for a relatively low price for a Tor fantasy, I had to grab it. There is just something about reading a fantasy novel in print. I am definitely excited to finish the book and get my thoughts out about it. 

3. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone - People have been talking about it for a while, and the cover caught my eye while I was wandering through the LGBT+ section at Barnes & Noble a bit ago. All I can actually remember from what I've seen on the various bookish platforms is that it's a temporal love story between someone called Red and someone called Blue who are on opposite sides of a war. It looks amazing and I am definitely intrigued. 

4. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong - I know, this one is outside my normal genre picks, as you can tell by the above novels. I don't typically go for this kind, but I remembered someone on one of the many bookish platforms, talking about it. It looked interesting and I have read books in a similar vein in the past and I thought I'd give it a try. It looks really good. 

5. Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo - The sequel to Ninth House, which I read...I want to say two years ago? Maybe last year. The short term memory is not as good as it probably ought to be. Anyway, I liked the story and when I saw this on the list of available books for Book of the Month in January, I really just couldn't pass it up. I am looking forward to it arriving and being able to jump right into it. 

6. Writing Like a Reader by Francine Prose - I got this in two different formats, so I'm only going to include it the once. I picked up the audiobook and the print of this to read with my new writing group. I have no idea what I'm going to be getting into, so this ought to be fun. I've heard interesting things from the group and I'm looking forward to it. 

7. Master of Sorrows by Justin Travis Call - I grabbed it so that I could have 18 books total on my unread list on Audible. It follows this orphan kid and the whole idea was what if the hero and the evil were one in the same and I couldn't resist. I already tossed it onto the Wheel of TBR for the audiobooks.

8. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko - The literal only thing I can remember about the book, and the reason I wanted it, was because Reagan (from Peruse Project) loved it....last year or the year before that when she read it and I couldn't pass it up. 

9. Muse by Brittany Cavallaro - I've read the first book she put out a few years back, and when I read the synopsis for this one, there was no way I wasn't going to get it and read it. It looks really good, and it's just funny that I have a coworker that shares her name with the main character. 

10. The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu - I had seen this one floating around BookTube/BookTok last year and the year before, and it looked interesting. Naturally the girl-child would not be seen as worthy or able to do what her brother is permitted. The cover was definitely a draw. I don't remember much from the synopsis, which I read exactly once. I've a lot of Marie Lu's books, so here's hoping I also like this one.  

11. The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher - Dunno. this one just looked good. I don't remember having ever read a book featuring a character that was orphaned, but actually in the system. Usually it's fantasy novels where the character is just taken in by a relative. I am looking forward to this and seeing where it goes. 

12. The Monarchs by Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige - I own and have read the first book in the series (The Ravens) which followed this magical sorority. I heard of the sequel, but had been having trouble finding it. Then it popped up on BookOutlet, and I could not resist. It is pretty high up on my to-be-read list. 

13. Relic & Ruin by Wendii McIver - Don't come at me, but I am immediately attracted by black covers featuring skulls. I don't know what it is about them. But I will look every single time. Even if it's a third or fourth in a series, I'll check it out. This one caught my attention, since it is a Wattpad book. I'd forgotten they had their own publishing house. This may turn me back to Wattpad....we'll see. 

14. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - It was popular on BookTube, and it was decently cheap on Book Outlet, so I figured why not give it a try? The cover is stunning. I love it and and the way they did it. Hopefully it's at least a 4-star read. 

15. Extasia by Claire Legrand - I do not remember why I wanted this. I honestly don't. Maybe because it's from Claire Legrand? Maybe because I was apparently in a spooky mood? Maybe because the cover was beautiful? Friends, your guess is as good as mine. 

16. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton - It's green. I remember seeing it drifting through Bookstagram, and thinking the cover was funky and wanting to give it a go. The hardback went on sale for like $8 on BookOutlet, so I grabbed it. Turns out (that for one, the naked cover is my favorite shade of fern green) that the entire book is being told from the perspective of a crow named S.T. Crows are up there for my favorite animal. The only one ahead of them is owls. Naturally Iam now even more interested in this than I was before now that I know we are in 1st crow perspective. 

17. The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport - Someone not that long ago on BookTube was talking about this. I don't remmeber who or what they said, but the cover sparked the memory and at that point, I was already spending over $150, so didn't see the harm in adding another to my order. Do I have any idea what the book is about? Nope. None at all. So we will find out what I think of it. 

18. Beyond the End of the World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner - This one, not that I realized when I was looking at it, is actually the second book in a series. I'm debating picking up the first one or putting it back up on like Pango or something. Right now I'm leaning toward finding a copy of the first one as cheaply as I can. This one looked really interesting.