Good evening, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling January and are having a good start to your February. Today I am here to write up my first review for my monthly reading list. I can say overall I really enjoyed the books that I read and I’m excited to continue with this challenge through February and beyond. With that being said I will get right into it.

https://vibrantlycurated.com/2023/01/03/whats-on-my-reading-list-this-january/

1.) Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon by Diana L. Paxson

So, Marion Zimmer Bradley has been one of my absolute favorite authors ever since I read her book The Mists of Avalon in 10th grade English Honors class for my summer reading. I always thought she brought such a unique perspective to stories and mythology that was very different from what I had ever read previously and have read since. For a little bit of background, The Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the Tales of King Arthur from the perspective of the women involved. Since the first time reading it I was so enthralled and continued on with the rest of the series.

While reading this, I can tell that it’s not the same author. However, I believe that Diana L. Paxson has remained true to the spirit of the world that Marion Zimmer Bradley created. Ancestors of Avalon crafts a unique vision of Avalon before it was Avalon while still weaving in the various mythological and religious elements that I loved in the original series. Ancestors of Avalon follows the story of priests and priestesses building a new world while escaping from Atlantis. Through her attention to detail, the author is able to craft compelling characters who the reader truly cares about throughout their journeys.

While this was an enjoyable read for me, I did feel that the book ultimately felt rushed. I felt as though the author spent a great deal of time setting up the world only to have the final 1/4 of the book feel as though it was rushing to be printed. Despite this I would still recommend reading this novel and am excited to read the next in the series.

7/10 stars would recommend.

2.) The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

So, I have to admit that I’m a huge fan of the Hulu show The Handmaid’s Tale and thought that I should finally give the book a try. Let’s just say that I was very happy with this decision. I think Margaret Atwood is so unique in her ability to craft such a dystopic reality in such realistic and vivid detail. A reality which while extreme, doesn’t seem too far away or unbelievable. While the subject matter is heavy and often horrifying at times, the ability of Atwood to incorporate humor into June’s character helps to cast light on what is otherwise a truly bleak tale. I think that this book should be considered essential reading for all.

10/10 stars would recommend.

3.) The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

The Firebrand is a retelling of Homer’s The Iliad from the point of view of Kassandra, the powerful prophet daughter of the King of Troy. Similar to many of her other works, the Firebrand helps to cast women into the forefront of their stories as fully fleshed out characters where they might have previously been overshadowed or otherwise placed into stereotypical gendered roles attributed to daughters and mothers. The novel was interesting in its exploration of gender, religion, and cultural change.

7/10 stars would recommend.

4.) The Witcher Blood of Elves by Andrezej Sapkowski

So this read was a bit more complicated compared to the other ones. For Secret Santa this year I put on my Elfster app The Witcher book series. I had watched the first season and had heard about the series in general and given that I’m a huge fan of fantasy, I thought I would give it a try.

However, much to my dismay, when I started reading the series I realized about halfway through that the book I was reading, Blood of Elves, was not the first book in the series but really the third book despite having a large number 1 on the spine. Now the whole time I had this gut feeling that something wasn’t right. The book was talking about things I thought I shouldn’t know about yet but I kept on ignoring this reoccurring thought and instead proceed through based on the idea that the book set wouldn’t lie to me.

Despite all this, I was still able to follow most of the story since I had watched the first season. Personally, I would recommend this book if you’re into the fantasy genre. It’s an easy read especially if you start with the correct book first lol. If you decide to give the series a try refer to this helpful guide for the correct reading order. How to Read the Witcher Books in Order (2023 Update) | Reedsy Discovery Trust me, if you follow this guide you’ll have a much better time with it than I did.

7/10 stars would recommend!

5.) I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy

This was a book that had actually been on my back log for quite some time and I was just waited for the opportunity to read it. For this particular book, I actually opted to listen on Libby and I’m glad I did as it was voiced by Jeanette McCurdy herself. Listening to her read her own book in her own voice was all the more impactful.

This book was such a raw and beautifully written depiction of someone dealing with a lifetime of trauma while ultimately working towards recovery. While the subject matter is frequently heavy, Jenette McCurdy’s ability to blend her unique brand of dark humor throughout helps to drive this narrative forward without feeling too overwhelming. This is a book that I would truly recommend without hesitation to anybody.

10/10 stars would recommend!

Now that is the roundup of January’s reading list. I can definitely say that I really enjoyed this and am excited to continue on with this challenge. What was on your reading list this month? Do you have any recommendations as we push along into the new year? Let me know in the comments below.