Books Read in January 2022
Every single year I set a reading goal and just about every year I fall short. In a previous post, I mentioned waking up from a haze to realize I had let my goals fall to the wayside. I was originally talking about writing goals but I found that also applied to other interests like reading.
Looking back at my Goodreads challenges, I’m always a little disappointed.
I was such a voracious reader when I was younger, what happened?
I don’t really have the answer to that question but I do know that I’m finding my way back to the reader I was and for the first time ever, I completed my Goodreads challenge. In 2021, I set a goal of 25 books, and with only a couple days to spare, I finally achieved that goal. I’m not going to lie, it felt really good.
As 2021 ended and 2022 arrived, I went back and forth between sticking with a conservative number or aiming for something higher. I wanted to read more than last year but I still wanted to be realistic. I settled on 52 books. I mean, one a week is pretty doable, right?
Well, I’m pleased to say my momentum from the end of 2021 has carried over into 2022. I read four books in the first three weeks of January. It feels good to start the year off ahead of schedule. Who knows, I might even be able to squeeze a fifth book in before this post is published!
So without further ado, here are the books I read in January:
**This post contains affiliate links from which I may receive a small commission.
Kore by Ambrosia R. Harris
I’m a sucker for any Greek mythology retelling especially if it’s one about Hades & Persephone. In Kore, we are introduced to Persephone when she’s a young girl and follow her as she grows into her own person. She chooses to flee to the Underworld to avoid a less than ideal fate and learns a lot about herself on her long, perilous journey.
Harris has done an incredible job marrying traditional aspects of Greek mythology with her own reimagining of the story of Persephone. Kore is a fun read with a world that is easy to get fully immersed in.
I would recommend Kore to anyone who enjoys reimaginings of Greek mythology.
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Amazon** | Bookshop** | Goodreads
The Final Girl Support Group is a wild ride of a love letter to classic horror. The main cast of characters are all Final Girls from their own traumatic experiences that correlate to classic horror franchises like Scream, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Here’s the kicker, someone is trying to finish the job.
I like to think I’m pretty good at figuring out who the killer is but in all honestly, I didn’t see just how this was going to end. I had a hard time putting this book down and thoroughly enjoyed the world built by Hendrix that incorporated so many classic horror references. I look forward to reading more by Hendrix and recommend The Final Girl Support Group to any horror fan!
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
Amazon** | Bookshop** | Goodreads
Content warning: mention of suicide, school shootings
The Taking of Jake Livingston is a queer coming-of-age ghost story that deals with some tough topics but does so in a masterful way. Jake is one of the few Black students (the other being his much more popular brother) at St. Clair Prep and as if having to deal with everyday racism and struggling with his sexual identity wasn’t difficult enough, Jake is also a medium who can see ghosts in the final moments of their lives. Things get particularly difficult when the ghost of Sawyer Doon, a school shooter who committed suicide, decides to use Jake to carry out the rest of his vengeful plan.
The novel spends its time split between Jake’s POV and journal entries written by Sawyer which feels a little forced. As the reader, I wanted more of Jake. I wanted to know more about his powers and the supernatural aspect of the world. Reading from the POV of a school shooter was uncomfortable and felt out of place.
That being said, I would still recommend this book for anyone craving stories about queer Black boys. I hope Douglass decides to revisit Jake and share more of his story.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Amazon** | Bookshop** | Goodreads
I first heard about Iron Widow a few months before its publication on Twitter and it has been one of my most anticipated reads since. It was so popular that it took me until the middle of January before a copy was available from my library.
Described as “Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale” this novel from Xiran Jay Zhao does not disappoint. Wu Zetian wants revenge for her sister’s death and discovers a power inside of her that she does not shy away from. If I were to describe Zetian in one word it would be unhinged and I am absolutely here for it. Iron Widow is a fun and wild read full of feminine rage. A must-read for anyone who wants some sci-fi mixed with traditional Chinese culture.
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Amazon** | Bookshop** | Goodreads
Payback’s a Witch was one of those books I added to my TBR purely from the title and cover. I had very little idea what it was about when I received my copy from the library.
The entire time I was reading this book I couldn’t help but think I was reading John Tucker Must Die meets the Tri-Wizard Tournament. The town and history of Thistle Grove, the magical town where the story takes place, is so rich and vibrant I couldn’t help but want more. (Luckily, the second book in the series is expected in May.) The first book in The Witches of Thistle Grove series is a must-read for fans of Harry Potter who crave a more diverse and inclusive magical world.
Let me know which of these you’ve read or if you plan on reading any of them! I’d also love to hear what you think I should add to my TBR for the rest of the year.
See you next month for Books Read in February!
Keep reading,
Ilona
