January TBR

I am so glad December is over.

I was acclimating to a new job, I was calling every day to see if I had to serve on a jury, I was undergoing a management change at Starbucks, and it was the holiday season. I ended the month in the emergency room with a mystery stomach illness.

December was not kind to me.

January will be.

And in order to help manifest that, I will be making reading a priority. It did fall off my list in December, but I got a planner for Christmas. So I should definitely get my shit together, right? It’ll be easier, right?

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn

Morgan Pendragon has spent her entire life living in her brother’s shadow because of the fae blood that runs through her veins. When the opportunity to go on an quest to retrieve the legendary blade, Excalibur, presents itself, she takes it. She finds herself drawn to her dark comrades and on a path of self-discovery.

This is an Arthurian retelling that has magic, fae, and a lot of dark elements in it. I haven’t read a lot of dark fantasy, but I’m eager to get into it and try it. This is also out of my comfort zone, but I got it for free on stuff your kindle day, so I may as well give it a go.

Skyward Flight by Brandon Sanderson

This book has been on my TBR list before.

This is a collection of novellas. This book contains Sunreach, ReDawn, and Evershore. It’s a part of the Skyward series and builds upon concepts introduced in the main novels. Sunreach follows FM and her adventure with the Taynix, also known as the slugs that dwell in the caverns beneath Detrius. ReDawn follows Alanik and her quest to find a group of people opposing the Superiority that would be willing to help her and her race be free from oppression. Evershore follows Jorgen and the development of his powers as he learns to work with the Taynix.

I have Defiant, the fourth and final installment of the Skyward series, on my shelf, I’m just trying to finish these novellas before I read it.

I’m almost done with Evershore. I promise I’ll finish it this month.

Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

This book has time-travel and the gays in it. Need I say more?

Seriously though, in the year 6066, humans are indentured servants, working to pay their debts to the emperor. Asha, another cog in this endless and tireless machine, receives a message from a stranger in the dead of night, and her life changes in an instant.

In 1812, Obi has decided he’s done with time travel, the illness that plagues him, the mystery of his father’s disappearance, and the prince who may never love him back. That is, until he hears about the ghost of a girl from another time at the British Museum.

I received this book in my Illumicrate box and I am so excited to read it! It seems so interesting, thrilling, and unique. It officially releases January 18th.

Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin

Enid is a lesbian who works in a space centre and is obsessed with space. She’s also trying to reconnect with her estranged father, get over her fear of bald men, and work through her first serious romantic entanglement. It all increases her mounting paranoia and the idea that there is something seriously wrong with her.

This book seems like it’s going to deal heavily with mental illness and anxiety. From the blurb, I also feel like there will be a lot of humor to provide some levity to such a dark topic.

This book is actually arriving at my house today as my Book of the Month pick for January! It doesn’t officially release until January 24th.

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I’m reading from more genres this month. I have a dark fantasy, science fiction, more science fiction, and a contemporary novel.

I’m really hoping I can read and write more this month. I felt lost and depressed in December because I wasn’t reading and I wasn’t writing as much as I wanted to. It’s a part of my identity, and it was fading. This month, as a new month and a new year, I’ll emphasize making it a priority.

I also don’t want to lose touch with the parts of myself I’m healing by pushing myself too hard, either.

January is about finding a balance.

What are you reading this month?