January Wrap Up

I got a ton of reading done this month I can barely believe it!  Part of the reason I got so much done is kinda sad (my depression reared it's ugly head again, ugh) but there is the upside of the amount of pages I poured through this month- and loved!  I mean, I did have a pretty high goal for myself this month and I (pretty much) managed to reach it.  If you remember my January TBR I planned to read eight books, and I finished six of those and then one I didn't plan to get to.  The only ones I didn't manage to finish were Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Chilling Revelation, though I'm currently a few chapters in, and Sword and Verse, which I just didn't feel like reading when the preorder finally came in.

1. Red Queen

I loved this book so much!  I couldn't have imagined that I would adore it so, and I'm desperately waiting for Glass Sword at this point.  I actually find myself thinking about this book pretty regularly, which really surprises me.  It was a great way to start off the month, even though it took me two weeks to read it.

2. Illuminae

I buddy read this book with Maryam Dinzly and it was so fun to do that!  On top of that, this book was amazingly fantastic and if you haven't read it you really, really should.  It took me about a day and a half to get through completely and I both savored every second and couldn't stop racing through it.

3. The Night Parade

This was such a surprisingly good read!  It's a cute little middle grade steeped in Japanese mythology, and I really, really recommend it.  Particularly, if you know a young reader; it's the perfect story to share among many generations.

4. A Thousand Pieces of You

I have some really conflicted feelings about this book.  On one hand it was super addicting, and on the other, it wasn't that deep and the romance was weak.  I do plan to continue this series, though, and I'm excited to do so.

5. Fairest

This one took me no time at all to read and I rather enjoyed it!  It's not super important to reading the rest of the series, but I think if you're a fan you'll enjoy it.  I do recommend reading it between Cress and Winter, if you're curious.

6. Beyond the Shadows

Oh goodness this book swept me away and gave me massive book hangover!  It's the final book in the Night Angel trilogy and things only got better.  I heard that Brent Weeks said he'd be writing another trilogy set in this world, and I really, really can't wait.

7. You Were Here

I'm actually writing this post before I've finished this book, but I'm not worried about finishing it.  So far it's been a really quick read and, while it's not as angsty as I think it's trying to be, I'm really enjoying it. The art really adds a level to the story that I'm enjoying.

I also managed to read several volumes of manga, and a couple graphic novels, too.  TV-wise I haven't watched very much, and hopefully next month I'll fix that problem.  I just haven't been motivated to do much more than read, and, honestly, I'm okay with that.

What books did you read last month?  Any you absolutely loved?  Let me know!

ARC Review: The Night Parade

Author: Kathryn Tanquary

Website, Twitter

Edition: eGalley courtesy of Netgalley

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link

Rating: 4 Stars

I received The Night Parade from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick reading middle grade novel that follows Saki who, on a trip to her grandmother's house to celebrate an important Japanese holiday, ends up getting herself caught up in a death curse.  In order to break the curse she must spend three nights at the Night Parade, each night with a different guide trying to get her to meet the Midlight Prince.

I actually really, really enjoyed this story!  I actually picked it up before learning what it was about (the cover was just so pretty!) and was pleasantly surprised by the concepts.  I don't know a bunch of Japanese mythology, but from the small amount I did know this all seemed really legit, and it also helped expand my horizons on what's out there.  From the very first page I was captivated by the story, honestly, and found myself eager to read this book between classes.

The writing was very good, as well!  It's simple, but not condescending, and she is able to deftly weave a description without taking a paragraph to dissect everything.  I think my only major problem came from the fact that, besides Saki, the other characters aren't too defined.

Speaking of Saki, she starts off a bratty and shallow city girl who's part of the popular/mean crowd.  Over the course of the novel she undergoes pretty significant (and believable) character growth thanks to her time in the spirit world, and I really enjoyed watching her change and grow.  Also, I was a bit of a bratty kid (though not as bad as her, but one might describe my younger self as spoiled... those were dark times...) and I was able to easily connect with her.

This is definitely a book worth picking up, and if you have a younger reader, this is one to give them! Not only does it feature a diverse main character, but the story is top-notch, and it's a quick and pleasant read that leaves you with a smile on your face.