｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

♧ JANUARY:

Total books read: 4
Favorite book: The cruel prince
Worst book: Våldets ansikte
Average rating: 3

♧ FEBRUARY:

Total books read: 6
Favorite book: Stormsystern, The queen of nothing
Worst book: Marken brinner
Average rating: 3.67

♧ MARCH:

Total books read: 4
Favorite book: Nödrop
Worst book: Gud som haver
Average rating: 3.75

♧ APRIL:

Total books read: 2
Favorite book: The Hawthrone legacy
Worst book: Den unga eliten
Average rating: 4.5

♧ MAY:

Total books read: 5
Favorite book: Vicious
Worst book: Älvornas kulle
Average rating: 2.6

♧ JUNE:

Total books read: 7
Favorite book: Throne of glass
Worst book: The mysterious affair at Styles
Average rating: 3.57

♧ JULY:

Total books read: 9
Favorite book: The prison healer
Worst book: A fate of wrath & flame
Average rating: 3.11

♧ AUGUST:

Total books read: 7
Favorite book: The game
Worst book: Mitt liv som råtta
Average rating: 2.14

♧ SEPTEMBER:

Total books read: 6
Favorite book: The gilded cage
Worst book: Midnattsstjärna
Average rating: 3.83

♧ OKTOBER:

Total books read: 8
Favorite book: Red queen
Worst book: Circe
Average rating: 3.25

♧ NOVEMBER:

Total books read: 8
Favorite book: The girl least likely
Worst book: How to succeed in evil
Average rating: 3.25

♧ DECEMBER:

Total books read: 9
Favorite book: The stalker, An heir comes to rise
Worst book: Sovande jättar
Average rating: 4

books I read in 2022 so far!!
reading challenge: 100 books for 2022 //completed!
(hearts ♡ - favorites)

January
✎ Gifting Me To His Best Friend ★★★☆☆
✎ His Revelry ★★★★☆
✎ Every Heart A Doorway ★★★★★
✎ Daughter of No Worlds ★★★★☆
✎ Strange the Dreamer ★★★★☆
Books Read: 5
Average Rating: 4

February
✎ Iron Widow ★★★☆☆
✎ The Last Magician ★★★★★
✎ The Invisible Life of Addie Larue ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Wife ★★★☆☆
✎ Addicted To You ★★★☆☆
✎ The Darkest Temptation ★★★★☆
✎ The Sweetest Oblivion ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Cinder ★★★★★
Books Read: 8
Average Rating: 4

March
✎ Crossbones ★★★★★
✎ Ricochet ★★★☆☆
✎ The Razor’s Edge ★★★★★
✎ The Queen of Nothing ★★★☆☆
✎ Gallant ★★★★☆
Books Read: 5
Average Rating: 4.13

April
✎ The Atlas Six ★★★★☆
✎ Flock ★☆☆☆☆
✎ A Touch of Darkness ★★★★★
✎ A Million Kisses In Your Lifetime ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Lords of Pain ★★★☆☆
✎ King of Battle and Blood ★★★☆☆
✎ There are No Saints ★★★★★
✎ Brutal Prince ★★★★☆
✎ Lola & The Millionaires ★★★★☆
✎ There is No Devil ★★★★★
✎ Truly Devious ★★★★★
✎ The Deviant King ★★★☆☆
✎ Marriage for One ★★★★★ ♡
✎ City of Thorns ★☆☆☆☆
✎ Tattered ★★☆☆☆
✎ The Vanishing Stair ★★★★★
✎ Alone With You In the Ether ★★☆☆☆
Books Read: 17
Average Rating: 3.65
// I’m honestly so shocked I read this much in April

May
✎ Indecent Infatuation ★★★☆☆
✎ Kiss an Angel ★★★★★ ♡
✎ The Unwanted Wife ★★★★★ ♡
✎ The Favor ★★★★★
✎ The Deal ★★★☆☆
✎ The Kiss Thief ★★★☆☆
✎ The Prison Healer ★★★☆☆
✎ Twisted Emotions ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Until Memory Fades ★★☆☆☆
Books Read: 9
Average Rating: 3.67

June
✎ Twisted Pride ★★★★★
✎ Bound by Duty ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Stolen Heir ★★★★★
✎ Radiance ★★★★★ ♡
✎ The Winter King ★★★☆☆
✎ Blood Heir ★★★★★
✎ Vicious ★★★☆☆
✎ This May End Badly ★★★★★
✎ Fatal Harmony ★★★☆☆
✎ The Sea King ★★☆☆☆
✎ The Summer I Turned Pretty ★★★★☆
✎ The Bridge Kingdom ★★★★★ ♡
✎ The Traitor Queen ★★★★★
✎ Broken Bonds ★★★★★
✎ Savage Bonds ★★★★★
Books Read: 15
Average Rating: 4.2

July
✎ Blood Bonds ★★★★☆
✎ Sparrow ★★★★☆
✎ The Bloody Bride ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Principessa of Chicago ★★★★★
✎ The Rocchetti Queen ★★★★★
✎ Kingpin’s Foxglove ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Empress of Poisons ★★★★★ ♡
✎ Of Violent Lineage ★★★★★
✎ Born, Darkly ★★★☆☆
✎ The False Prince ★★★★☆
✎ First & Then ★★★★★ ♡
✎ The Pact ★★★☆☆
✎ Lola and The Millionaires: Part Two ★★★★☆
✎ The Book of Azrael ★★★★★ ♡
✎ A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor ★★★★☆
✎ Ivy ★★★★☆
Books Read: 16
Average Rating: 4.4
// Look at that 5 star streak

I got into reading this year. It’s weird considering a few years back I absolutely hated it. But I gave it a try and oops.. I think I got obsessed

حرف‌هاتون رو میخونم و قلبم به درد میاد، فکر‌ نمیکردم یه روز اینطور یه دست، توی همچین پلتفرمی از غمی بنویسیم که مارو حتی از پناهگاه امنمون هم دور‌ کرد.
من‌ هم‌ مثل خیلی از شما به هدف امسالم نرسیدم، نتونستم یه جا بشینم، تمرکز کنم و به این فکر نکنم کتابی که تو دستمه رو چندتا از آدمایی که از دست دادیم خوندن؟ چندتاشون این کتاب‌ موردعلاقه‌شون بوده؟ یا چطور میشه با این همه درد زندگی عادی و کتاب خوندن رو ادامه داد.
———————————————————————
از کتاب‌هایی که‌ خوندم راضیم؛ به خاطر درس‌های دانشگاه به ادبیات روسیه برگشتم، از نویسنده‌هایی که دوست داشتم خوندم، کتاب‌های موردعلاقه‌مو‌ بازخوانی‌کردم و سعی کردم برای مفید بودن تو این روزها کتاب‌هایی انتخاب کنم که آگاه‌ترم میکنن. از سال جدید تعدادشون رو ‌‌بیشتر میکنم.
——————————————————————-
امیدوارم سال بعد این موقع کتاب‌های خوب و باکیفیتی که حق کپی رایتشون رعایت شده و سانسور‌ نشده‌ن رو تو دستمون داشته باشیم و از لذت آزادی بگیم.

:):

2022 goals:
✓ read 50 books ( 76 / 50 )
✓ read more mindfully
✓ read 2 non-fiction books ( 3/2 )
✓ finish at least 3 series ( 3/3 )

favourite book each month:

j a n u a r y | The Dragon Republic by R F Kuang
➻ 6 books read ▪ 1 dnf

f e b r u a r y | The Burning God by R F Kuang
➻ 6 books read

m a r c h | The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
➻ 6 books read

a p r i l | Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
➻ 4 books read

m a y | Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
➻ 5 books read

j u n e | Summer Frost by Blake Crouch
➻ 8 books read

j u l y | A Clash of Kings by George R R Martin
➻ 6 books read

a u g u s t | Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
➻ 7 books read ▪ 1 dnf

s e p t e m b e r | Babel by R F Kuang
➻ 3 books read ▪ 2 dnf

o c t o b e r | Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
➻ 8 books read ▪ 1 dnf

n o v e m b e r | Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
➻ 11 books read ▪︎ 2 dnf

d e c e m b e r | Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
➻ 7 books read ▪ 1 dnf


series completed
the poppy war trilogy // r f kuang
twisted // ana huang
mistborn era two // brandon sanderson


2022 priorities
• The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch
• The Shadow of What Was Lost - James Islington
• Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
• The Sword of Kaigen - M L Wang
✓ Jade City - Fonda Lee
• Jade War - Fonda Lee
• Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee
✓ The Dragon Republic - R F Kuang
✓ The Burning God - R F Kuang
✓ Babel - R F Kuang
✓ Red Sister - Mark Lawrenxe
• Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence
• Holy Sister - Mark Lawrence
✓ Hyperion - Dan Simmons
✓ The Fall of Hyperion - Dan Simmons
✓ A Clash of Kings - grrm
• A Storm of Swords prt 1 - grrm
• Muse - Diane Portman-Ray
✓ Ecstasy - k v rose
• Ominous - k v rose
• Monstress Vol 1 - 6
✓ The Wolf of Oren Yaro - S K Vilosso
• The Shadow of the Gods - John Gwynne
• By Sin I Rise Part 1 - Cora Reilly
• By Sin I Rise Part 2 - Cora Reilly
• Empire of Silence - Christopher Ruocchio
• Recursion - Blake Crouch
✓ The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan
• The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan
✓ Gardens of the Moon - Steven Erikson
✓ Deadhouse Gates - Steven Erikson
• Memories of Ice - Steven Erikson
✓ Jegudiel - Tillie Cole
✓ Shadows of Self - Brando Sando
✓ The Bands of Mourning - Brando Sando
• Caliban's War - James S A Corey
• Abaddon's Gate - James S A Corey
✓ Solaris - Stanisław Lem
• The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K le Guin
✗ The Grace of Kings - Ken Liu
• A Psalm for the Wild Built - Becky Chambers
✓ American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
• The Ninth Rain - Jen Williams
✓ Betty - Tiffany McDaniel
• The City of Brass - S A Chakraborty
DNF (✗) – 1
Completed (including DNF's) – 20 / 45

2022 anticipated releases
• To Paradise - Hanya Yanagihara
✓ Babel - R F Kuang
✓ Upgrade - Blake Crouch
• Book of Night - Holly Black
• Fall Boys - Penelope Douglas
• Siren Queen - Nghi Vo
✓ Reminders of Him - Colleen Hoover
• All My Rage - Sabaa Tahir
✓ The Lost Metal - Brando Sando
• How High We Go in the Dark - Sequoia Nagamatsu
Completed – 4 / 10

newfound all-time favourites
• the dragon republic - r f kuang
• the virgin suicides - jeffrey eugenides

Updated on: September 17th 2022

Current objective: 125 books

Will I manage to lower my massive TBR? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Probably not.

September TBR

☆ Blood and Ash series - Jennifer L. Armentrout
- From Blood and Ash (#1) (2 stars)
- A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (#2)
- The Crown of Gilded Bones (#3)
☆ Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman (3 stars)
☆ A Torch in the Night - Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #2)
☆ Fable - Adrienne Young (Fable #1)
☆ A Duel With the Vampire Lord - Elise Kova (Married to Magic #3)
☆ Girls Made of Snow and Glass - Melissa Bashardoust
☆ The Final Gambit - Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games #3)

August

☆ The Revenge of Bridget Cleary - Mathilda Zeller (5 stars)
☆ Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World - Benjamin Alire Saenz (Aristotle and Dante #2) (3 stars, DNF)
☆ Daughter of the Moon Goddess - Sue Lynn Tan (The Celestial Kingdom Duology #1) (3 stars)
☆ The Heart Principle - Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient #3) (5 stars)
☆ Raybearer - Jordan Ifueko (Raybearer #1) (3.5 stars)
☆ A Conspiracy of Kings - Megan Whalen Turner (The Queen's Thief #4) (4 stars)

Books read: 6
Best: The Revenge of Bridget Cleary
Worst: Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World

July

☆ Les Colombes du Roi-Soleil series - Anne-Marie Desplat-Duc
- Les comédiennes de monsieur Racine (#1) (4 stars)
- Le secret de Louise (#2) (4 stars)
- Charlotte, la rebelle (#3) (3.5 stars)
- La promesse d'Hortense (#4) (5 stars)
- Le rêve d'Isabeau (#5) (3.5 stars)
- Éléonore et l'alchimiste (#6) (3 stars)
- Un corsaire nommé Henriette (#7) (3.5 stars)
☆ The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie - Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzies & McBrides #1) (3.75 stars)
☆ Lore Olympus: Volume Two - Rachel Smythe (Lore Olympus #2) (5 stars)
☆ For the Throne - Hannah Whitten (Wilderwood #2) (4 stars)
☆ The Captive Throne - Kenley Davidson (Legends of Abreia #4) (3.5 stars)
☆ Tripping Arcadia - Kit Mayquist (3 stars)
☆ Masque - W.R. Gingell (Two Monarchies Sequence #3.5) (4 stars)
☆ Castle and Key - W.R. Gingell (Two Monarchies Sequence #5) (4 stars)
☆ Book Lovers - Emily Henry (5 stars)
☆ Endless Water, Starless Sky - Rosamund Hodge (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire #2) (5 stars)
☆ It Happened One Summer - Tessa Bailey (Bellinger Sisters #1) (2.5 stars)

Books read: 17
Best: Endless Water, Starless Sky
Worst: It Happened One Summer

June

☆ House of Salt and Sorrows - Erin A. Craig (2.5 stars)
☆ Under One Roof - Ali Hazelwood (The STEMinist Novellas #1) (2.75 stars)
☆ The Bride Test - Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient #2) (5 stars)
☆ The Woman Before Wallis - Bryn Turnbull (3.5 stars)
☆ A Deadly Education - Naomi Novik (The Scholomance #1) (4 stars)
☆ Stuck With You - Ali Hazelwood (The STEMinist Novellas #2) (1.5 star)
☆ She Who Became the Sun - Shelley Parker-Chan (The Radiant Emperor #1) (4.5 stars)
☆ House of Hollow - Krystal Sutherland (5 stars)
☆ Cinderella Is Dead - Kalynn Bayron (2 stars)
☆ Glow - Raven Kennedy (The Plated Prisoner #4) (4 stars)

Books read: 10
Best: The Bride Test
Worst: Stuck With You

May

☆ Furyborn - Claire Legrand (Empirium #1) (4 stars)
☆ Des années plus tard (The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After) - Julia Quinn (French translation by Léonie Speer) (Bridgerton #8.5) (3.5 stars)
☆ Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Saenz (Aristotle and Dante #1) (4 stars)
☆ Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke (4 stars)
☆ Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford - Julia Fox (4 stars)
☆ The King of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner (The Queen's Thief #3) (4 stars)
☆ The Secret History - Donna Tartt (3 stars, DNF)
☆ The Shadows Between Us - Tricia Levenseller (The Shadows Between Us #1) (1.5 star)
☆ All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business - Mel Brooks (4 stars)

Books read: 8
DNF: 1
Best: The King of Attolia
Worst: The Shadows Between Us

April

☆ The Light in the Labyrinth - Wendy J. Dunn (The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn #2) (4 stars)
☆ Les Pérégrines - Jeanne Bourin (4.5 stars)
- Les Pérégrines (#1) (5 stars)
- Les compagnons d'éternité (#2) (4.5 stars)
☆ Stalking Jack the Ripper - Kerri Maniscalo (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) (1 star)
☆ Tall & Dark - Suzannah Rowntree (5 stars)
☆ Of Goblin Kings series - Emma Hamm (3 stars)
- Of Shadows and Elves (#2) (3.5 stars)
- Of Pixies and Spells (#3) (3 stars)
- Of Werewolves and Curses (#4) (2.5 stars)
- Of Fairytales and Magic (#5) (3 stars)
☆ The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern (3 stars)
☆ A Psalm of Storms and Silence - Roseanne A. Brown (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) (4 stars)
☆ The Queen of Attolia - Megan Whalen Turner (The Queen's Thief #2) (4.5 stars)

Books read: 12
Best: Tall & Dark
Worst: Stalking Jack the Ripper

March

☆ For the Wolf - Hannah Whitten (Wilderwood #1) (4 stars)
☆ Lore - Alexandra Bracken (1 star)
☆ Of Goblins and Gold - Emma Hamm (Of Goblin Kings #1) (4 stars)
☆ The Folk of the Air trilogy - Holly Black (4.5 stars)
- The Cruel Prince (#1) (5 stars)
- The Wicked King (#2) (4.5 stars)
- The Queen of Nothing (#3) (4.5 stars)
- How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (#3.5) (4.5 stars)
☆ Beauty - Robin McKinley (3.5 stars)
☆ City of Thorns - C. N. Crawford (The Demon Queen Trials #1) (2 stars)
☆ An Enchantment of Ravens - Margaret Rogerson (3.5 stars)
☆ The House in the Cerulean Sea - T.J. Klune (DNF, no rating)
☆ The Empire of Gold - S.A. Chakraborty (The Daevabad Trilogy #3) (2 stars)
☆ Dear Heart, How Like You This?: The Cost of Love. - Wendy J. Dunn (The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn #1) (3 stars)

Books read: 12
DNF: 1
Best: The Cruel Prince
Worst: Lore

February

☆ Electric Idol - Katee Robert (Dark Olympus #2) (3 stars)
☆ The Sleeper and the Spindle - Neil Gaiman (3 stars)
☆ Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia (4 stars)
☆ The Forgotten Sister - Nicola Cornick (3 stars)
☆ European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman - Theodora Goss (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #2) (2 stars, DNF)
☆ Lore Olympus: Volume One - Rachel Smythe (Lore Olympus #1) (5 stars)

Books read: 5
DNF: 1
Best: Lore Olympus: Volume One
Worst: European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman

January

☆ Dead Famous - Greg Jenner (3.5 stars, 32% read in December)
☆ A Curse so Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer (Cursebreakers #1) (2.5 stars)
☆ An Ember in the Ashes - Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes #1) (3.5 stars)
☆ Audrey Hepburn - Barry Paris (4.5 stars)
☆ The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood (3.5 stars)
☆ A Court of Thorns and Roses series - Sarah J. Maas (3 stars)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (#1) (3 stars)
- A Court of Mist and Fury (#2) (3 stars)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (#3) (2 stars)
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (#3.5) (1.5 star)
☆ People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry (4.5 stars)
☆ The Savage and the Swan - Ella Fields (2 stars)
☆ A Song of Wraiths and Ruin - Roseanne A. Brown (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1) (3.75 stars)
☆ The Crown's Game - Evelyn Skye (The Crown's Game #1) (2 stars)
☆ Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies - Laura Thompson (4 stars)
☆ Bright Smoke, Cold Fire - Rosamund Hodge (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire #1) (5 stars)

Books read: 15
Best: Bright Smoke, Cold Fire
Worst: A Court of Frost and Starlight

New releases to read this year

☆ Keeper of the Queen's Jewels - Adrienne Dillard (October 12th 2022)
☆ Bloodmarked - Tracy Deonn (Legendborn #2) (November 8th 2022)

Books to read this year/Series to finish

☆ Muse of Nightmares - Laini Taylor (Strange the Dreamer #2)
☆ Victorian Rebels series - Kerrigan Byrne
☆ A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4)
☆ An Ember in the Ashes series - Sabaa Tahir
☆ The Empirium trilogy - Claire Legrand
☆ The Queen's Thief series - Megan Whelan Turner
☆ The Scholomance trilogy - Naomi Novik

2022 is coming to an end, and you know what that means. It's end of the year list time!

I had a very fruitful reading year, which gives me some anxiety about this upcoming year, but I am very pleased that my reading was so productive this year. I have a lot of books to talk about and I am ready to dive in. I won't be talking about books I covered last year that I finished this year, those are already covered in my 2021 list and my opinions have not changed on them. I also won't count re-reads, so sorry Jason Aaron's Thor. Now onto the list! Reviews will be linked if I've written them.

Favorite Books of 2022:

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville: An astonishing and utterly original piece of fantasy. This is one of those books, like American Gods or my favorite read last year Black Leopard, Red Wolf, that I was actively encouraging people to read. Mieville's boundless imagination, evocative descriptive prose, and his playfulness with his concepts, characters, and world make this one of the most engaging reads that I've encountered all year. Bas-Lag is a world as vivid and dazzling as anything Tolkien ever did and it captures the imagination in ways that lesser fantasists could only dream of. A bizarre, flawed, sprawling masterpiece.

Gone To See the River Man by Kristopher Triana: It's not often that a book can get such a visceral reaction out of me, to the point where I put it down, completely shaken by what I've just read, and consider what I had just gotten myself into. I'm not much of a fan of splatter horror, or splatterpunk as it's been affectionately named, but Kristopher Triana won me over with his crisp, evocative prose, and his palpable sense of atmosphere. It's a book that has a familiar set up, before it completely pulls out the rug from under you and shocks you completely. It was brutal, it was depraved, it was utterly brilliant. Considering our modern infatuation with serial killers, I find that this gives Gone to See the River Man more poignancy, and it's a boat trip that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Wraiths of The Broken Land by S. Craig Zahler: I already knew Zahler from his films, which I hold to be some of the most original and ballsy films being made today, and I was curious about his prose fiction. Let's just say I was not disappointed. Wraiths of The Broken Land is a violent, profane, and deeply engaging work, peak storytelling at its finest. Zahler's skill with bringing characters vividly to life and his uncompromising depictions of violence sets him apart from many of his contemporaries and it was one of those books that had me sucked in from beginning all the way until the end. I usually resent saying things like this, but they just don't make them like this anymore.

The Kenzie and Gennaro series by Dennis Lehane: Lehane continues to prove himself to be the best living crime fiction writer, and his breakout series following the adventures of Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro showcase just why. Lehane is a master of suspense, of crafting deeply compelling and intricately crafted mysteries, and he's a master storyteller. There is a lot of darkness to be found in the Kenzie and Gennaro series, but there is hoped to be found when they bring all sorts of evil people to justice. All the books are well written, funny, and deeply enjoyable while never losing its dark edge. Darkness, Take My Hand and Gone Baby Gone are my favorites of the series.

The Cabin at the End of The World by Paul Tremblay: Tremblay is one of those authors I've heard about who is described as one of the best horror writers working today, and I decided to see if the rumors were true. I picked The Cabin at The End of the World because it was relatively short, and I was intrigued by the concept. Also, titles that have 'at the End of The World' on it tend to get my attention and make me go 'oooh, I want to know what THAT is.' I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed. This is a tightly written, suspenseful, and consistently engaging book that kept me guessing on what would happen next. I can't say that I'm surprised that Shyamalan is making an adaptation of this after reading it, though I do hope that he doesn't mess it up.

The Scar by China Mieville: After Perdido Street Station, I was excited to see what Mieville would do next, and I wasn't disappointed. Perdido Street Station's quasi-sequel/spin-off The Scar proves to be a wholly unique and fascinating book on its own. While I wasn't in love with it as much as the previous book, it was a book that has stayed with me and a book that I've grown to appreciate the more that I think about it. Armada is a city that is just as intricately developed and vivid as New Crobuzon was in the previous book, and the characterization was far more at the focus in this book. The Scar is a book that proves to be a great follow up to Perdido Street Station, and another excellent addition to Mieville's oeuvre. Thanks Nataliya for reading this alongside me.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie: Abercrombie is considered one of the best fantasy authors working today, much beloved by a lot of Youtubers that I watch, and I was not disappointed. While many compare him to Martin, I think a more accurate comparison would be to Robert E. Howard, since he shares Howard's primal worldview and penchant for immersive description and bonecrushing fight scenes. He also introduced Glokta, who's become one of my favorite characters in all of fantasy literature. His wit, disillusionment, and inner conflict makes him an engaging character and much of his antics were many of my favorite moments throughout the story. It is a bit of a set up book, but it is also a profane, hilarious, and well-rounded piece of fantasy.

Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosby: Blacktop Wasteland has a lot of things that I like: old muscle cars from the 60s and 70s, complicated, conflicted characters who are caught in a crossroad between two paths, southern gothic atmosphere, and a darkly intriguing criminal element that doesn't lose its menacing edge. Blacktop Wasteland is a strong novel that explores the lengths that people are willing to go to for the ones they love, and how the sins of the past may never truly be buried, no matter how much you run from it. It also has one of the best climaxes that I've read in recent years (without being Perdido Street Station.) Yet another fantastic noir.

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle: Victor LaValle is a talent I've kept my eye on for a while, and his Lovecraftian retelling The Ballad of Black Tom has become one of my favorite modern cosmic horror stories. The Devil in Silver is yet another fantastic book from him, a scathing critique of the way that we treat people in society who are deemed to be unusual as well as how we treat people who suffer from mental illness. It's a book that defies genre and dips its toes into supernatural horror, social satire, and fantasy while never staying in one box. I was much more engaged by the characters and their lives, how they dealt with their own institutionalization. It's another excellent work from one of horror's brightest modern talents.

This Bright Future by Bobby Hall (Logic): I've always been a fan of Logic's music and I wanted to see what his memoir would bring, and I was pleased with what I read. This Bright Future is Logic's coming of age story and the story about where and when he grew up. It's a heart wrenching story at times, but also a funny and ultimately uplifting a story about not letting your surroundings and upbringing to define your future. Logic's skill as a storyteller outweighs any of the shortcomings he might have as a prose stylist. It's a very good book and I look forward to what he does next.

The Devoured by Curtis M. Lawson: A horror western that combines gunslinging action with cosmic horror. Much like Blacktop Wasteland, it has a lot of things that I enjoy: cosmic horror, Norse mythology, western bravado and gunplay, kick ass action. It's modern pulp with its fast pace and emphasis on action and storytelling. But Curtis continues to impress with his deft characterization and tight control of language. It can be a little melodramatic at times, but it serves the narrative well. Hopefully, Curtis can continue putting out such great works of fiction and I don't just say that because we're friends.

A Congregation of Jackals by S. Craig Zahler: Another great violent western from S. Craig Zahler and while I prefer Wraiths of The Broken Land, A Congregation of Jackals is still a damn fine novel. While Wraiths was more of a horror story, A Congregation of Jackals feels like a demented, perverted version of The Wild Bunch, with hints of Blood Meridian to keep things spicy. It's a tragic tale of a group of outlaws who find out the hard way that their past sins can never be fully buried, and a reckoning will be coming to them. Gripping, suspenseful, and very emotional in the most unexpected of places. S. Craig Zahler continues to fire on all cylinders.

The Hunter by Richard Stark (Donald Westlake): Retro noir at its finest, I picked this up to read after reading Darwyn Cooke's excellent comic book adaptation and I have to say that I was pleased. Westlake has some of the crispest prose that I've ever read, and his storytelling is concise and to the point. There isn't a moment wasted in this novel rather than what Parker wants and how he's going to get it. The journey is fun and riveting, and Donald Westlake proves that he is an engaging storyteller with plenty of plot to spare.

Those Across The River by Christopher Buehlman: I freaking love werewolves, they're my favorite monsters aside from krakens and wendigos, and I'm always looking for good werewolf content because there's a lot of crap out there. I read this as a part of my spoopathon this year and I really enjoyed it. Buehlman combines well-crafted historical fiction with a supernatural horror bent, with atmosphere and beautiful prose to spare. Those Across The River is a riveting exploration of the lasting trauma of slavery and the legacy of violence that was inherent in the Jim Crow south. Despite the ending earning a cocked head of confusion out of me, it was still a strong work, and I am anxious to read more of what Buehlman brings.


Favorite Comics of 2022:

Monster by Naoki Urasawa: I've been slowly trying to get into manga for the past several years now, with mixed success. But Naoki Urasawa's Monster ended up finding its way as not just my favorite manga that I read this year, but my favorite comic in general. I'm a huge sucker for concept and it's hard to find any form of fiction that can deliver on the premise that it's selling, but Urasawa does that and then some. He is a writer and artist who happens to be very skilled at both professions, crafting a story that's engaging, suspenseful, and surprisingly emotionally rich. He also crafts one of the most terrifying villains that I've ever read with Johan Liebert. This story combines noir, horror, and fairy tales to create a story about finding the light in a dark world and the many ways that people can be monstrous to each other.

Sink by John Lees and Alex Cormack: Sink is one of those comics that come around that knocks you right on your ass. It's one of those comics that I like just for creatively ugly and unpleasant it is. It is decadent, violent, and utterly insane...and I enjoyed every demented second of it. There are killer clowns, a deranged fox mask wearing vigilante who makes Rorschach look like a candy ass, a crime boss that looks suspiciously like Grant Morrison, and so much more. This could easily have been an exploitation romp, but John Lees keeps it engaging with excellent storytelling and an eye for great characterization. Alex Cormack's art is detailed and showcases the insanity and depravity of these characters in such a way that it's reminiscent of Jacen Burrows' style. Sink is a great series, and I can't wait to read more of it.

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud: This is one of those books that everyone told me was great, the book about how to make comics, and I'm happy to say that I agree. McCloud is engaging, funny, and filled with insights on how to make comics. This was a book that was entertaining as it was educational in the art of creating comics, though sadly I'm not much of an artist. It's a must read for anyone interested in working in the medium.

Batman: The Imposter by Mattson Tomlin and Andrea Sorrentino: Probably the best Batman comic that I've read in the last few years, and a good companion piece to the excellent film The Batman. I was attracted to this because I am an admirer of the artist Andrea Sorrentino, which is odd since I tend to follow writers more than artists, and I was not disappointed. The Imposter explores an alternate take on the Batman mythos and takes the Batman story into a new direction. While not all of it comes together as neatly as it could, Tomlin's well-paced story and Sorrentino's ever surreal and scratchy artwork make Batman: The Imposter well worth the look.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill: League feels like a return to form for Alan Moore: deconstructing and reimagining old stories and offering new insights and views in how these stories are viewed. It's not one of Moore's best works, but it is an unapologetically fun pulp romp with many Victorian characters forming into a Justice League. It's a shame that Kevin O'Neill happened to die the same year that I finally read League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, because his art is fantastic: odd, spindly, and unusually shaped in a way that was reminiscent of the great Steve Ditko. He is a talent who will be missed.

A History of Violence by John Wagner and Vince Locke: While I enjoyed this book, I must say that this is one of those rare books where the film adaptation is superior to the original version of the story. I found that Cronenberg's adaptation went into more detail in its exploration into the legacy of violence and how it will eventually destroy anyone who comes into its path. But Wagner's original comic is still a well written, nicely paced story about retribution and eventually redemption. I am curious to see what else Wagner has in store for the future.

Reckless by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips: The Reckless books from Ed and Sean continue to be fantastic, I find that I'm like a broken record when I say that the Reckless books are a great edition to the oeuvre of Ed and Sean's fruitful collaboration. There's not much else to say rather than they're well written, excellently drawn, and well-paced and some of the best crime comics that are being put out in American comics right now.

I hope that you all had a great 2022, and I hope 2023 treats you all well too. Until next year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Looking back over the last year I’m reminded how lucky I am to be part of a community where I can share friendship and the love of books - two of my favorite things! A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to read and support my reviews, or just make Goodreads a fun place to be.

Speaking of fun, let’s get to it!

Although I had almost half as many 5-star reads as last year, there were still plenty of standouts:

[bc:The Accomplice|55573681|The Accomplice|Lisa Lutz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617983757l/55573681._SY75_.jpg|86665041] - Lisa Lutz (Mystery/Suspense)
[bc:The Night Shift|57693427|The Night Shift|Alex Finlay|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639384101l/57693427._SY75_.jpg|90371632] - Alex Finlay (Mystery/Thriller)
[bc:Look Closer|59316367|Look Closer|David Ellis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650843418l/59316367._SY75_.jpg|93468385] - David Ellis (Mystery/Thriller)
[bc:The New House|59344722|The New House|Tess Stimson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649651481l/59344722._SY75_.jpg|93503102] - Tess Stimson (Psychological Thriller)
[bc:Amen Maxine|61306546|Amen Maxine (Jolvix Episodes, #1)|Faith Gardner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1655484384l/61306546._SY75_.jpg|96671405] - Faith Gardner (Mystery/Suspense/Sci-Fi)
[bc:Violeta|57933338|Violeta|Isabel Allende|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623948647l/57933338._SY75_.jpg|90770458] - Isabel Allende (Historical Fiction)
[bc:Carrie Soto Is Back|60435878|Carrie Soto Is Back|Taylor Jenkins Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649848581l/60435878._SY75_.jpg|94816155] - Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Fiction)
[bc:Every Summer After|58014893|Every Summer After|Carley Fortune|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630101647l/58014893._SX50_.jpg|90914930] - Carley Fortune (Romance)
[bc:Holiday Romance|61401417|Holiday Romance|Catherine Walsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657109678l/61401417._SY75_.jpg|96871836]- Catherine Walsh (Romance)
[bc:The House in the Cerulean Sea|45047384|The House in the Cerulean Sea|T.J. Klune|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569514209l/45047384._SY75_.jpg|62945242] - Tj Klune (Fantasy)

My top read of the year from those and a debut no less? Every Summer After. It stole my heart and gave me all the warmest, happiest, most nostalgic fuzzies.

Favorite books of 2022:

Manacled by Senlinyu
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Tender by Belinda Mckeon
Magic Embrace by Jennifer Horsman
The Morelli Family Series by Sam Mariano *reread
Crimson Rapture by Jennifer Horsman
Even if it Hurts by Sam Mariano
Lovefire by Deana James
Darkness into Light by Natasha Peters
Bought and Paid For by Deathsdoll
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
Girl on the Edge of Nowhere by R. Lee. Smith
Mike Schmidt and the Long Night by R. Lee. Smith
The Children of Mammon by R. Lee. Smith
New Faces, Old Bones by R. Lee. Smith
The Coming Home Place by Mary Spencer

Honorable Mentions:

Summerstorm by Anastasia Cleaver
The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton
The Club XXX Series by Lana Sky
Winterscape by Anastasia Cleaver
Submitting in Vegas by Sam Mariano
The Wicked and The Willing by Lianyu Tan
The Reimagining of a Blood Slave by JanJan Untamed
Lily by Patricia Gaffney
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
The Pale Court Duet by Liv Sanders
The Night Blossoms by Leylah Attar
Light and Shadow by Candace Camp



Worst Books of 2o22:
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
The Sanchez Tradition by Anne Mather
An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher
Stormspell by Anne Mather
Kneel by Eden Butler
Ashes by Dylan Page
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe
Defiant Ecstasy by Janelle Taylor
Deadly Desire by Haley Stuart

Biggest Disappointments:
Hatter Fox by Marilyn Harris
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
Glint by Raven Kennedy
Savage Lands by Stacey Marie Brown
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Devil in a Silver Room by Violet Winspear
Royals by Quinn Blackbird