Pretty sure I posted a monthly update just last week, but here we go again!
– What Happened –
I guess we can start by talking about my guilty pleasure read, Lore & Lust by Karla Nikole. I’d normally roll my eyes at a description like ‘queer vampire romance’, but I’m obsessed with this cover. So, when it popped up on my Kindle store, I mashed that download button.
I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved this short book and its unique take on vamps, even if the sexy scenes in the last 30% make me a little embarrassed to talk about it! I might have convinced Arina from The Bookwyrm’s Guide to the Galaxy to do a discussion post with me in the next few months, which will help me figure out if this book is objectively good, or if I’m just thirsty for mlm right now. I think it could be a genuinely interesting post given that it’s such a niche read.
I also read The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, Becky Chambers’ nostalgic farewell to her Wayfarers series. Its fairly slow, but I loved all the alien anthropology.
Most recently I read White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton as part of TheWriteReads’ blog tour. Its a really fresh and inclusive urban fantasy – keep an eye out for my post later today! Or possibly in a few minutes.
I didn’t read as much as I would have liked to this month, but I didn’t do bad with my new reading goals, having read a self-published book as well as two review copies.
– The Damage –

Ebook Purchases

Physical Books and Pre-Orders
So this is actually the LEAST amount of books I’ve purchased since early on in my book blogging journey! I’d like to say that’s due to a pragmatic approach to my reading, but it was more for lack of time and motivation. And because I already owned most of the SFF books on Amazon’s monthly Kindle deals š¬
I found a Goldsboro set of Ada Palmer’s Terra Ignotia series for a fantastic price, so I couldn’t resist.
I think House in the Cerulean Sea must have been reprinted, since I was able to find a hardcover on Book Depository. Pretty sure I’m going to drop everything when it arrives.
Empire of the Vampire is a Waterstones exclusive that I bought purely because of FOMO (still haven’t read any of Jay’s books), and Rosewater qualified me for free shipping. I also ordered the N K Jemisin’s Dreamblood duology from Anderida Books, because all of their special editions are amazing.
– What’s Gonna Happen –
Today I’ll be sharing my first blog tour review of 2021, and at some point I’ll finally write a review of We Men of Ash and Shadow by HL Tinsley, a quality grimdark novel I read back in December.
Other than that, I want to catch up on some review copies (as is my plan every month, apparently) and then commit hard to being a mood reader for the rest of the year. Here’s my current list of outstanding books to review (I don’t know HOW I haven’t read Master of Djinn yet):
What have you got planned for Feb?
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Ooo, have wanted to read Ada Palmer’s Terra Ignota books for a while now… thanks for the reminder!
I’m looking forward to that discussion post with Arina – sounds like fun. š
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Same here!! I heard the fourth one comes out this year, and I think it might be the last book? The covers are beautiful!
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They really are! š
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I also bought the Waterstone’s special edition of Empire if the Vampire, although I’m not sure how, it sold out fast!
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I have some of these on my radar, and waiting for them is like waiting for Christmas every month. Oh, and you had me at queer vampire romance. That seems so you! š
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Such gorgeous covers in your bought section! I still need to read The House in the Cerulean Sea, and I love the sound of Lore&Lust!
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I think they must have stocked up quite a bit, he seems to be very popular for the special editions!
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Haha I wouldnāt have thought so, but here we are šš¼
Thatās my third vampire book in a year, but one of them I canāt talk about as you know š¤«
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Ah I hear so many good things about it. I think itās the uplifting read I need right now!
Would be interested to hear what you think of lore and lust! Thereās an interesting sort of low key magical element that i hadnāt come across before
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I ended up reading Lore & Lust because of you, just finished and really enjoyed it although I agree about that last 30%!
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