How is it the end of the year already? I can’t believe we’re about to start a brand new decade. This past month I read 18 books, which is pretty exciting because I officially beat my record of books read this year by reading 235! I also participated in the winter session of the Magical Readathon, which was definitely fun. I have a few books at the beginning of January to finish it up. You’ll find everything I read this month below the cut.
- Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I am so glad that this book came out this year! I’m not sure that I could have waited all the much longer for it. I really, really loved it. I know it’s probably not everyone’s favourite conclusion to a series but I really, really liked how all the threads came together. I won’t spoil anything but I’m a happy camper.
- The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Rating: 3 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I like the story of The Hobbit but I have to admit that this particular audio adaptation didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t super clear what was happening and I had to slow down my listening speed, which made me a little bit sad. However, the story is still great.
- Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray
Rating: 5 stars
Prompt: Read a book that is longer than 500 pages
Format: Audiobook
Review: I can’t believe it took me this long to get to this book. This is such a good story and I really, really love the characters. The ending hurt me a lot but I am really looking forward to the sequel. By looking forward to it, I mean I desperately need it now. Why isn’t it February already? Also can I just say that the audiobook is so good.
- A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I know that it took me forever and a day to finally finish reading this book, but I’m glad I did. I get the hype a little bit more now but I have to admit that I would be perfectly happy with this being the only book in the series. I don’t know if I will continue on, but I might just not seek it out. We’ll see. Anyways, I really like Lila Bard. She’s a great character.
- Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was also a re-read for me. I have plans to visit my childhood again and read and re-read the Royal Diaries series before I turn 29. This was the first one I picked up. It was also one of my favourites as a child and I really loved visiting it again. It’s a story that brings me a lot of nostalgia, but also definitely breaks my heart just a little bit.
- Squire by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: The nostalgia is strong with me this month as this was the first of several Tamora Pierce re-reads. I don’t have a lot to say about this book other than I love it, and just think that Kel makes for such an interesting role model. I really like her as a character and I just love that she’s so strong and I loved her story arc.
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This is of course a re-read as well, but it was also a novel study for my grade 8 English class. I love reading this book with my students as much of a cliche as it is because I love the story, and I find the kids really like it too. It’s rare to find books for novel studies that most of the class enjoys in my brief experience. I just love the characters and the story and I highly recommend it if you somehow haven’t read it yet.
- Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobooks
Review: Another Tamora Pierce re-read and it was the conclusion to Kel’s series. Kel had such a good ending and I’m glad I revisited her story. I don’t have much more to say past what I already said about Squire.
- Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: Once I finished reading the Protector of the Small series by Tamora Pierce, I knew I had to continue with the books in this world and picked up Trickster’s Choice. I loved this book too. I love Tamora Pierce’s books because they are so often led by strong women. Ali is no different. She is very different from the other female protagonists and from her mother. I like her cunning and plotting. I devoured the audiobook for this.
- Trickster’s Queen
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I also devoured the audiobook of this. In hindsight, this series does come across a little bit white saviour-y, but I still really enjoy Ali’s character and how she grew into her own, and found her path. I also liked the development of her love story. Ali and Nawat make for a rather interesting couple.
- Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn
Rating: 4 stars
Prompt: Book Club Pick or Buddy Read
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I picked this book up because a student recommended it to me, and it was one of the lit circle books at my school, which is a little bit like a book club. 😛 Anyways, this was super fascinating. It was totally twisty and I found it a really quick read. The chapters of the novel were all very short which makes you want to keep reading and keep devouring the book in order to find out what happened. I’m definitely glad that I read it, as it was a unique story. It’s not my favourite thing I’ve ever read but it’s definitely an interesting kind of mystery. I kind of predicted the twist, but I liked that personally.
- Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 5 stars
Prompt: Paranormal Book or one that features ghosts
Format: Audiobook
Review: I am loving my Tamora Pierce re-read. I’m getting pretty close to finishing the Tortall books. Beka Cooper’s story is really interesting because I like the look at a historical Tortall. I also like the perspective of someone who isn’t noble, and doesn’t spend most of their time amongst the noble characters. It’s a very different perspective than a lot of the other books. It’s just a really interesting story.
- Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: Here’s another book in my Tamora Pierce reread. I really enjoyed this story and the addition of the scent-hound Achoo. I really like how animals are dealt with in Tamora Pierce’s books. They’re somewhat personified in the neatest way. I also loved the mystery in this story. It’s twisted and really interesting.
- The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
Rating: 4 stars
Prompt: Urban Fantasy
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I preordered this book and yet it took me forever to read it. Ultimately, I really liked revisiting the Shadowhunter world and going back and seeing more of the start of Malec. That being said, it took me forever to get into this book. At first it kind of read awkwardly and it felt different from Cassandra Clare’s usual books. However, once I finally got into the story it was easy to devour. I liked the twists and turns and it definitely had me gasping. I liked watching Malec develop. They’re super cute.
- Followers by Megan Angelo
Rating: 4 stars
Format: eBook
Review: This book was one of my eARCs, and it was definitely interesting. Took me a minute to get into it but once I did I was compelled to find out what exactly was going to happen. I have a full review coming in early January, so keep your eyes out for that.
- Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 5 stars
Prompt: Book shorter than 125 pages
Format: eBook
Review: I want to try and read Call Down the Hawk soon, so I thought it might be good to reread Opal, and see if that story has information that’s necessary for me to understand the book or if there are any Easter eggs that I missed. It’s such a cute little book, and Opal is such a unique character. I really love the way Maggie Stiefvater writes. She’s very talented.
- Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: Theoretically this is one of my last books in my Tamora Pierce rereads, and it was so worth it. The holidays made it so it took me much longer to read it then it should have, but I did really enjoy it. I like the additional characters we meet in this story, but it’s still one of the most heartbreaking twists tbh. However, I will go on loving it.
- How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian
Rating: 4 stars
Format: eBook
Review: There will be a full review of this coming at the end of January! As a quick preview, I will say that I really enjoyed this story. It’s sweet with a good message and a happy ending. Definitely recommend it!
What did you read in December? Let me know in the comments below!
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