A Slow January Reading Recap – Fantasy & Horror/Thrillers

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After a rough year of reading in 2024, one of my intentions for 2025 is to read consistently. So even though we’re starting a bit on the slower side, I’m excited about the variety of reads I’m starting the year off with. 

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Goodreads / Storygraph / My Review

Summary

In a world where magic has been banished and a tyrant king determined to keep it away, an assassin is summoned. She does not come to kill the King, but to win her freedom in a competition. Against twenty-three other deadly assassins, criminals, and thieves. 

If she can beat them and serve the crown, she will eventually be granted her freedom. But with a charming prince, a thorn in her side, Captain of the Guard, and an evil looming within the castle walls, our main character, Celaena, has a lot of obstacles. 

But there is more to Celaena than meets the eye. 

My Thoughts

If you read my review for Throne of Glass, you’ll know I chose to read this series semi-out of order. I am glad I started with this book because I thought it was a really good introduction.

Our main character, Caleana, is very young with a traumatic past and even though she is a bit cliche. I am excited about her growth. 

The banter between Celaena and Dorian 100% had me giggling. I also 100% teared up when Nehemia gives Celaena the Ellwye name of Elentiya.

The plot was a bit over the top at moments, but when I remember that SJM started this series in her teens, I can look past it. 

I would be lying if I said I’m not excited to read the rest of this series. I love the ACOTAR series and I have zero doubt I’ll love this series just as much. 

A solid 4 stars out of 5 stars. This story has its issues, but I had a good time, anyway. 

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Goodreads / Storygraph / My Review

Summary 

In a tiny Texas town, Lucy and Savannah “savvy” are two best friends living picture perfect lives. Lucy is married tp a handsome a wealthy man, while Savvy is the social butterfly. 

Until Savvy is murdered, and Lucy is found covered in her blood. Even though Lucy was declared not guilty, she’s since fled to LA to start over. But her past won’t seem to leave her alone.

Podcaster Ben brings interest back to Savvy’s cold case, interviewing the townspeople, and getting their interesting perspectives on both Lucy and Savvy. 

Lucy soon finds herself drawn into Ben’s world and the two begin working together to uncover the truth, no matter what other ugly truths it might bring up. 

My Thoughts

This book is one I listened to as an audiobook and I cannot recommend it enough. This is probably my favorite audiobook because the production was so good. 

The story itself is interesting, but after a while I got a bit tired of it. 

Our main character, Lucy, is going through a lot. She tends to cover it up with self-deprecating humor. The problem was that despite her best friend being murdered, Lucy seemed more interested in just moving on with her life. 

I wanted Lucy to fight for not only her reputation but also her reputation with her best friend, Savvy. 

Ben, the podcaster who brings attention to the cold case, was probably the most decent character in the whole book.

Everyone was super toxic and abusive, and nobody could seem to keep it in their pants. And in a small town, yuck. 

If I had read this book instead of listened to it, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much. 

Initially, I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. But honestly, it’s more of a 3 star out of 5 star rating now that I’ve had a small chunk of time to let it settle. 

Don’t Let The Forest In by C.G. Drews

Goodreads / Storygraph

Summary

Andrew Perrault is entering his senior year of High School at his expensive private school, Wickwood Academy. He struggles at the academy, relying on his relationship with his best friend Thomas Rye, and his sister Dove, to get by. 

Andrew writes to Thomas to help keep himself grounded. And as his sister, Dove, pulls further and further away from him, Andrew finds himself leaning more and more on Thomas. 

But something strange is going on with Thomas. He returns to Wickwood Academy with blood stained on his sleeve and his abusive parents having mysteriously vanished. Thomas won’t speak about it to Andrew and seems to have lost interest in drawing his horror-esque sketches of monsters. 

So, in order to find out the truth about what is happening with Thomas, Andrew follows him into the off-limits forest one night and discovers him fighting a nightmarish monster. A drawing of Thomas’s that has come to life. 

Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are leaving no survivors behind. To protect Wickwood, Andrew and Thomas spend night after night battling the monsters. But as their obsession and feelings grow strong, so do the monsters and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to destroy the monsters is to destroy their creator. 

My Thoughts

If I am being honest, the longer this book settles in my mind, the more thoughts I have about it. 

This story is dark, twisted, grief-stricken piece of work, while also somehow being magical with coming of age elements. 

I listened to this book as an audiobook but would recommend reading a physical or ebook copy. Michael Crouch does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life through audio I think the prose was just too lyrical and the story a bit too repetitive to not end up a bit lost. 

I managed to finish this in two days while working, but there were several points in the story where I had to go back or try to piece together what was going on. 

The ending is probably my biggest gripe. I know some people like that it is ambiguous but I don’t. Tell me how your story ends let me, as the reader, decide if I trust you or make up my own ending in my mind anyway. 

As unsettling and dark as this book was, I did come to enjoy it a bit and think about it from time to time. 

A solid 3.5 stars out of 5 stars. 

January was two audiobooks and one physical book. I have been really trying to get back to listening to audiobooks at work. 

But I will also admit that I am super picky about narrators and so sometimes it takes me a little longer to find one to listen to. 

I feel like I’m off to a good start. I didn’t love everything I read this month, but I can’t have it all. 

I’m currently reading Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (like literally everyone else) as well as Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas and am looking for an audiobook.

I also bought a copy of A Crown So Silver by Lyra Selene, which is the sequel to A Feather So Black, and I am honestly so excited to dive into it once I finish either Onyx Storm or Crown of Midnight. 

I have genuinely missed Fia and Irian. 

But that’s all I’ve got! I’m hoping to read more in February because I have like 3 more books waiting for me in my Kindle Unlimited library. 

What about you? What have you been reading?