I feel like I say this every January but it always feels like the longest month of the year. It’s dark, cold, miserable, and we are learning what the new year will bring us. Spoilers, it isn’t looking good. Typically I try to keep my opinions outside anything bookish out of this community but good grief, watching the Fascist Fanta take political office was like experiencing the start of the apocalypse. To be real with you all, I’m a little terrified of what his reign of terror will bring since he was giving Nazi in the first week.

Anyway, January was the first month I have been back here at Literary Weaponry in nearly three years and I am so glad that I took the jump to come back. I’ve missed this community and going back felt like coming home. Being with other book lovers is comforting. There is certainly a bit of a learning curve getting back in the groove but I’ve enjoyed every minute. This is what I accomplished within the reading world this past month.

Read

• Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore #1) by Jasmine Mas – This book has received so much hype and adoration from the community so of course I had to pick it up! While on one hand I enjoyed this, I also felt a little disgusted by it. The author appeared to be attempting to portray the heroine Alexis as a strong female character with flaws to make her feel relatable. However, the flaws made her seem mentally and emotionally stunted (outside of book smart) which made the sexual scenes feel very gross and uncomfortable. I am 100% in for some dirty smut but this was not it. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
• Never Lie by Freida McFadden – Over the last couple years I have gotten more into mystery and suspense but this is my first from McFadden. This story had most everything I look for. There was the steady growth of tension as the story progressed and the feeling of something going on behind the scenes that you would only get the briefest glimpse of. There were a few little bits that felt somewhat forced but overall it is definitely worth a read.
• Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros – I haven’t written formal reviews for these titles but really, we’ve all heard of them and know what they are. To say the least, I adore this series. It is a part of what drew me back into the bookish world and I am so grateful for that! Spicy fantasy romance is just my jam.

Hauled

• Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros (Audio through Audible and B&N exclusive copy)
• Love Bites (Mated to the King #1) by Lola Glass (Kindle Unlimited)

Non Review Posts

• The Return of Literary Weaponry
• Last 3 Books | Added to my TBR
• Favorite Reads of 2024
• Can’t Wait Wednesday | January 29

Is this anywhere close to the amount that I used to read? Absolutely not. But guess what? I’m okay with that. I have changed greatly over the last few years and so has my life. While those changes have been difficult and sometimes felt like mountains I could never climb, I am so proud of the person I have grown into. There is no point in your life in which you stop growing and learning. At nearly 40 years old I can attest to this.

I hope that 2025 is treating you with kindness and that you are doing the same for yourselves.

Happy reading 🖤