Mid-Month Reading Update | January 2021

Things have been very quiet on the blog this month because of exams but, I’m finally done with finals so you can expect a lot more activity in the coming weeks!

BOOKS I HAVE READ SO FAR THIS MONTH

In the first half of the month, I have read 4 novels, 1 novella and two short fiction magazines and I have enjoyed everything so far! I also managed to finish two trilogies: the Centenal Cycle trilogy by Malka Older and the Winternight trilogy by Katherine Arden.

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• State Tectonics by Malka Older (Centenal Cycle #3)

I finally read the last book in Malka Older’s Centenal Cycle, a trilogy set in a near future where Information, a powerful search-engine, has the monopoly over digital information for all the nation-states governed by micro-democracies. I really liked this trilogy even if it was quite dense (and if you don’t like reading about politics, this one is not for you!). State Tectonics was a great conclusion to the series but I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I didn’t wait more than two years to read it!

• Doors of Sleep by Tim Pratt

I have already reviewed this book earlier this month and it was a really fun ride! It follows Zax, a man who is able to jump from a reality to another when he falls asleep. I really liked the cast of characters and how imaginative it was!

• The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo (The Singing Hills Cycle #1)

My first five-star-read of the year!! 😍 This novella follows Chih, a priest, and Almost Brilliant, their magical companion, as they collect stories. In the Empress of Salt and Fortune, Chih and Almost Brilliant meet an old lady who used to be one of the former Empress’ servant. I loved this story, everything worked perfectly for me: the writing, the pacing, the atmosphere, the characters! I also highly recommend the audiobook!

• Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

I buddy read this book with Mayri from the Bookforager and even if I have a few issues with it, I ended up enjoying it a lot. Reading this book made me very excited for the TV show, I have a feeling this story is going to translate very well on screen so I will probably give the HBO adaptation a try this year! 😀

• The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden (The Winternight Trilogy #3)

This book was the perfect conclusion to a very good series! It follows Vasya, a teenage girl living in Russia who can see spirits and how it impacts her life and the life of her family. I liked the first two books in this trilogy but The Winter of the Witch is even better. I think it takes the best elements of the previous books and blend them perfectly! I especially loved Vasya in this final book, she’s just so great, she’s powerful, smart and independent and she always manages to do what she has to do, even when it hurts.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

I’m currently reading another short fiction magazine issue (Lightspeed #121) and I have just started The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, my first Vintage Science Fiction Month read!! I’m only a chapter into it so, I don’t have many thoughts yet but I’m pretty sure I’m going to love this book.

After that, I will probably read Winter’s Orbit by Evelina Maxwell or The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett depending on my mood. I will also try to read an issue of Clarkesworld before the end of the month!

What I’m Watching

I usually don’t mention TV shows in my mid-month updates but I’m currently watching Star Trek The Original Series Season 2. I am thinking of posting a review of this season for Vintage Science Fiction Month since it fits the theme perfectly! I have about ten episodes left and I already have a lot of notes… 😂

How is your month so far? Any good books? 🙂