# of books read: 5.
Total # of pages read: 1424.
Genres: 1 YA Fantasy, 2 YA Contemporaries, 1 Graphic Novel, 1 Classic.
Gender of author: 3 Female, 2 Male.
Nationality of author: 2 USA, 2 UK, 1 Canada.
It's the first reading wrap up of the year! Woooo! *runs round room whooping then slumps into a chair because JEEZ January was hard*.
Yes, that's right, well done everyone, we've survived January and I even managed to read a respectable amount of books. Seeing as we're well into February now I figured it was about time we had a chat about the books I read in January. Let's get into it!
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas | ☆☆☆☆☆
This set of YA fantasy novellas serves as a prequel to the Throne of Glass series. I personally decided to read this series in order of publication so I read The Assassin's Blade after finishing Crown of Midnight. I kind of think you can read these novellas at any point during the series, but it is probably better to read them sooner rather than later as they give some important context and background information to some of the characters and events that occur in the main series. I absolutely loved this book, I found each individual story so interesting and the writing was really fantastic. Sarah J. Maas' world building and character development across these novellas is incredible, I felt really connected to so many of the characters and I just couldn't put it down. This might be my favourite of the series so far.
Saga: Volume One by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples | ☆☆☆☆☆
I'm so glad that I finally got my hands on this incredibly-hyped graphic novel in January, and I'm happy to say that it's just as brilliant as everyone has been saying. It's basically a epic fantasy space opera that initially focuses on two star-crossed lovers from warring planets who are on the run. The art is beautiful, the world-building is awesome and the dialogue is so sharp and finely-tuned. It's kind of the perfect graphic novel and I need the next volume now!
All the Rage by Courtney Summers | ☆☆☆☆☆
I won't go on about this one too much as I posted a full spoiler-free review which you can read here. All the Rage is a YA contemporary about rape culture and the story of a survivor of rape in small-town America. It is raw and honest and painful and you absolutely need to read it.
A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr | ☆☆☆☆
This was my first pick for the 2016 Classics Challenge hosted by Stacey of Pretty Books. At only just over 90 pages, A Month in the Country is a beautifully constructed mix between a rural idyll and a commentary on the human condition. Again, I've posted a review of this classic here, so you can head over there to see what I thought.
How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss | ☆☆☆☆.5
I received this new release from Maximum Pop Books after they heard that my MP Secret Santa had been lost in the post, which was such a nice surprise and very thoughtful of them! How Not to Disappear is a YA contemporary which follows 17 year old Hattie who has just found out that she is pregnant with her best friend, Rueben's, baby. Meanwhile Reuben is off partying in Europe and Hattie's other friend Kat has disappeared off to Edinburgh with her girlfriend. Hattie feels completely alone, until she is contacted by a great aunt in the early stages of dementia, who she didn't even know existed. Cue a spontaneous roadtrip, several intense trips down memory lane and some heartfelt reflections on the importance of family. Furniss' writing is wonderful, the characters are so loveable and the dialogue is excellent. How Not to Disappear is at once heartbreaking, hilarious, shocking and hopeful and I can guarantee that you won't be able to put it down.
What did you read in January?
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