Rating The Books I Read In January

Rating the Books I Read in January

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - 3/5 stars

Technically I started this one in December, but I finished it in January, so I’m going to count it as a January read. I was a bit conflicted on how to feel about this book. On one hand, I love the prose, the twists, the exploration of morality, and the influence of literary classics.This book is a near-perfect blend of literary classic and thriller, and the best one that I've come across so far. However, I disliked the frequent, careless slurs, microaggressions, and stereotypes that were thrown around so casually in this book. On a related note, I would advise looking up trigger warnings before reading this book, for more reasons than just the ones mentioned. Finally, the ending seemed rushed and I wish I had been given more time to process the last chapter of the book before the epilogue.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson - 3/5 stars

I had really high expectations for this book because I’d heard so much about it on social media, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. It wasn't terrible, but it was definitely not great. I related to Pip in some ways, most of them academic. However, I never saw Pip's non-academic personality, and she didn't feel real enough to me. I liked Ravi but I couldn't really connect to him or any of the other characters for that matter. Also I know this book is just fiction, but some of the events just bothered me and/or were highly unrealistic. I ended up rounding the original review of two stars up to three stars because I truly liked the friend and family dynamics and banter throughout this book. I'm disappointed that it didn't live up to my high expectations, but I suppose it’s my fault for reading books solely for the hype.

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens - 3/5 stars

If you like queer, romance-centric fantasy books, this is the book for you. I, however, being a high fantasy snob, found it slightly too shallow (sorry for the pun) for my taste: the politics, government, and magic system felt extremely underdeveloped. And yes, I understand that the romance is the main part of this book and it’s not fair to rate it like a high fantasy book. However, even if I’m just rating it according to my entertainment level, I don’t feel particularly strongly about it one way or the other. The romance was easily the best part of the book; it was both sweet and shippable. I really liked the main character, Tal, and his character arc. Other than that, I don’t have too much else to say except that it was a decent read.

Fable by Adrienne Young - 4/5 stars

The second pirate-y book I read this month! If there’s one word I would use to describe this book, it would be “atmospheric.” Adrienne Young excels at bringing settings to life, as I learned in Fable. The descriptions were absolutely amazing and the worldbuilding had genuine depth (get it? okay I’ll see myself out now-). I liked how Fable was tough and resourceful, but she also had a softer personality and wasn’t afraid to show her vulnerable side sometimes. I also feel as though the crew of the Marigold was genuinely a found family instead of a bunch of friends, unlike so many other YA novels. The romance was sweet, although I wish Young had delved into West’s character more. I was a little disappointed at the ending, which I think could’ve been foreshadowed better. However, I'm excited to read the sequel soon. Thanks to @queenie.the.writer and @twoscomplemented_ for bringing this book to my attention!

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao - 4.5/5 stars

I actually knew about the author before I knew about the book! I followed their YouTube channel and TikTok page (they’re hilarious and well-informed, so I highly recommend checking them out!). The book itself did not disappoint. Zetian’s internal monologue had me laughing out loud and I loved her depth as a character. Don’t even get me started on her arc, because I could go on about it all day! In contrast, however Shimin and Yizhi seemed slightly shallower and could have been fleshed out more. I really liked their collective relationship and dynamic, but I wish it had been given more time to develop. The uniqueness of the mecha/Chinese dynasty-inspired setting and worldbuilding really appealed to me as well--I only wish that I had learned more about the history of the world itself. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys female corruption arcs, feminism, and fast-paced action!

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan - 5/5 stars

I was deliberating between 4.5 or 5 stars on this one, but I decided to just round up and rate it by how much I enjoyed it--which was a lot! It’s quite interesting seeing how Riordan’s writing matured from Percy Jackson. I also thought the entire main cast was fleshed out really well, which is a compliment coming from me--if you haven’t noticed from the previous reviews, I always pay close attention to the personalities of the characters I read. In this case, I found myself appreciating and relating to all of them in some way! The only fault I found with this book was the unrealistic ages of the characters. If they had been aged up a year or two, I think it would've been more realistic. Some of the worldbuilding also seemed like a large stretch. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. Reading this book reminded me of why I list Riordan as one of my inspirations. Humor, pacing, action scenes, worldbuilding--reading his books is like watching a master at work! I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a fun but high-stakes middle-grade sci-fi!

Scythe by Neal Shusterman - 5/5 stars

I was initially reluctant to read this book because I thought the premise was outlandish, but I decided to suspend my expectations, and I’m so glad I did! This book explores the best--and worst--of human nature. The worldbuilding is intricate, imaginative, and best of all, interesting! Usually in books I see worldbuilding as a good backdrop. Scythe, however, puts its worldbuilding at the forefront of the book, and that makes it so much stronger! The format of this book is engaging, with both journal entries and present-tense narratives, and the pacing flows quite well. Rowan and Citra were so intriguing and I thoroughly enjoyed following their journeys throughout the book. Thanks to @the-demi-jedi for recommending this book to me!