QUARTERLY WRAP-UP: Oct-Dec 2020

This last quarter of the year was quite… eventful for me, particularly November hence the dip in my reading and I was once again running behind with the good ol’ reading challenge. 🙃

It was a pretty close one but in the end I managed to meet it and reach 75 books! And despite it being an all around trash fire of a year, I’d say it was pretty great in terms of books 🥰

Here are my end of the year stats and this year I have a couple of accompanying graphs! Thank you to Kal @ Reader Voracious whose spreadsheet template I used throughout the year to keep a track of my reading! If you want to check out the one they’ve made for 2021 I’ve linked it here!

NOVELS READ –  63 | NOVELLLAS READ – 11 | GRAPHIC NOVELS READ – 1 | DNF – 3

[ 11 of which were AUDIOBOOKS ]

ADULT – 33 | YA – 39 | MG – 3

LONGEST BOOK – 766 pages [The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty]

Looking at my overall ratings, over half of my reads I rated 4 stars and above which says a lot as over recent years I’ve definitely gotten harsher with my ratings.

I was also surprised to see that I’d read about an equal amount of backlist titles and new releases/arcs – I genuinely felt like I was reading more new releases and arcs than anything else.

One thing I was very aware of though was that I read a lot more fantasy than other genres. The shock was how little sci-fi I read this year as usually the two genres match up in number for me 😅

Hence as an aim for 2021 to balance things out a little I’m planning to read more sci-fi.

I’m also knocking my reading challenge down to 52 and I want to try and focus on reading more of the books that I already own but we’ll see how that goes.. 👀

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– OCTOBER –

Ring Shout STORYGRAPH REVIEW | Phoenix Extravagant STORYGRAPH REVIEW | These Violent Delights REVIEW

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– NOVEMBER –

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– DECEMBER –

The Ever Cruel Kingdom REVIEW

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SOME STAND OUT READS

RING SHOUT by P. Djeli Clark

I mentioned this in my mini review but Clark is masterful at combining fantasy and history and creating worlds that you want to just jump into. From the kickass female leads to the commentary on the horrors of racism – if you love your monster hunting stories and don’t mind a bit of gore then you need to check this out!

THE GIRL AND THE GHOST by Hanna Alkaf

I have really neglected middle grade titles this year but they always give you something to take with you after reading them and this one does for sure.  This book, along with a giving us a slice of Malay culture and folklore, spins a tale around the topics of friendship, loneliness and grief that instantly touches your heart. It’s definitely a lot darker and emotionally heavy than I first anticipated but well worth the read.

MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Now horror isn’t my go to genre but this book was brilliant! The audiobook narration is great and really added to the gloomy gothic atmosphere that Moreno-Garcia’s writing so evocatively depicted. Albeit the story was a tad disturbing (🍄👀) and at times infuriating but it really traps you in and has you just as curious as Noemi to discover the secrets of High Place.

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS by Chloe Gong

I’ve already gushed in my review but I shall gush some more! This is Romeo and Juliet with more spice and bite, with the romance not taking centre stage but grabbing your heart all the same. A major gang feud, the political tensions of 1920’s Shangai and a mysterious pandemic all come together to create a captivating story, both paralleling  and revamping the original play in a fantastic way!

A SKY BEYOND THE STORM by Sabaa Tahir

I am still struggling to put my thoughts into words because I feel so empty that this series is now over but THIS is what you call a finale! It filled my heart and shattered it at the same time, but overall ended just right. 🥺💜

THE NEVER TILTING WORLD DUOLOGY by Rin Chupeco

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did but Rin Chupeco has definitely taken up a spot in my new favourite authors list this year! If love your adventure quest stories, intricate magic systems, puzzling prophecies and sisterhood/found family themes then you’ll definitely love this duology.

BLACK SUN by Rebecca Roanhorse

Just W O W! Full of adventure and magic, the pacing and the intrigue leading up to the main event that this epic fantasy tale centres on keeps you hooked. On top of that the beautiful complex characterisation and world building inspired by pre-Columbian Americas immerses you right in to this incredible story. I listened to this on audio as my last read of the year and it was a real treat!

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