January flew past, and despite the sheer chaos happening in the world around me (I am, unfortunately, American. And we all know how things are going over here), it was a pretty good month for books. I loved the vast majority of the books I read in January, so maybe there will be something on this list that will bring you the necessary escapism that I have so enjoyed this month.
Bitten and Bound by Amy Pennza
Bitten and Bound is a three-book trilogy that promises vampires, political intrigue, and top-notch smut. I discovered this series on Reddit, where a user claimed it was the spiciest book they read in 2024, and despite my less that stellar success rate with Reddit recommendations, I decided the promises of extremely spicy vampires and political intrigue was worth the risk, and the gamble paid off. I read this book for the spice, which absolutely delivered, but was pleasantly surprised by the engaging plot and fascinating world filled with vampires and expansive political intrigue. With heartbreaking moments and incredible drama, the Bitten and Bound trilogy was an unexpected read in the best way.
Verdict: Love It
Killer of Mine by Alexis Grace
Killer of Mine by Alexis Grace is a why choose romance following four FBI agents and a police detective, who also happens to be the daughter of a serial killer. On top of some serious plot-level problems, the writing is simply poorly done. The spice is not good enough to justify the writing. It’s fine, but it’s not particularly exciting or memorable. With writing this bad, and a plot this nonsensical, the spice would need to be truly impeccable to make this book worth the time, and it just wasn’t. Killer of Mine just wasn’t for me. It’s the first book in a planned trilogy, but I won’t be continuing with this series.
Verdict: Leave It
The Serpentine Duet by Miranda Silver
The Serpentine Duet is two books of paranormal why choose romance with a strong new adult element. There are four love interests, and it takes place largely in the contained setting of Pacific Crest University, a fictional college 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles. This story is mysterious, involving a slow unveiling of the darkness at Pacific Crest University. It’s an intense plot, but it moves quickly, with a streamlined chain of events. The Serpentine Duet has a very unusual magical system followed by a very unusual ending for a why choose romance, but one that makes many of the other choices throughout the duet make a little more sense. It’s a fun read, and unique in a way that makes for a fascinating read.
Verdict: Love It
The Ravenhood Trilogy by Kate Stewart
The Ravenhood Trilogy by Kate Stewart is a contemporary romance retelling of Robin Hood that was a viral TikTok sensation back when it was first published in 2020. I thought I had never read it, so it seemed a great time to return and find out what I missed. I am so deeply torn about this series. It’s somehow both spectacular and an utter train wreck. I actively hated the first book in the series, but the second and third redeemed most of my issues with it. These characters fought fierce battles through deep quicksand to get this happily ever after. There was a very sweet and moving ending that made all of the frustrating pages worth it, for the most part.
Verdict: Love It, in the end
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore won the Goodreads Choice Awards for 2024’s best mystery. I came across it a week later in a bookshop with my sisters and had to buy the book that one blurb described as in the same vein as Dona Tartt’s The Secret History, a book I’ve loved for many years. I dove into the story completely blind and was enamored with what I found. The God of the Woods would have been included in The Nora Theory’s Best Books of 2024 if only I had come across it before the new year. The intricate weave of time, characters, and storylines come together seamlessly to create a gripping and meaningful story that almost any reader will love.
I can’t fathom how Sadie Kincaid can write as many books as she does, but I am eternally grateful for it. The Ruthless universe, from LA to Chicago and now to New York, has long been a favorite of mine, and I was so excited to dive into the next installment of the James brothers’ stories. Promise Me Forever is a contemporary workplace romance with just a touch of the mafia presence that Sadie Kincaid is known for. It is technically a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Broken, before diving into this one. Promise Me Forever is a quintessential contemporary romance. Its easy to read, told from the dual perspective of both characters, so readers can really feel like they know these characters. It’s emotional but fast paced, and at the end you’ll be wishing there was more of these two, which is the hallmark of any excellent book.
Verdict: Love It
Phantom by H.D. Carlton
Phantom by H.D. Carlton is a historical romance with mafia elements, set in the 1940’s, in the same universe as the famous Cat and Mouse duet. You do not need to read the duet before reading this prequel, it is a complete standalone, but it may hold more meaning for readers with the context of the later stories, the universe, and its characters. I had some slight issues with this book, but the fun characters and very spicy spice make up for it.
Marked by Masks and Secrets by Maggie Sunseri is a romantasy vampire stalker romance, set in an elaborate magical world with witches, shifters, humans, and of course, vampires. This book perfectly blends spice, romance, and fantasy into a sweeping tale that is impossible to put down. It’s the first in the Everlasting Possession duet. One of my favorite things is reading an author and experiencing them getting better with every book, and that is very much the case with this duet. As much as I adored Eternal Obsessions, this book is somehow even better. Political intrigue and rebellion are melded seamlessly with fantasy, character development, and kink in a way that makes for a truly magical read.
Verdict: Love It
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney is a suspenseful mystery, set largely on an obscure Scottish island. It’s a chilling portrayal of marriage and revenge, with an ominous tone that will keep readers guessing until the very last chapter. The complex web of characters and coincidences leads to a gripping third act, which was welcome after a bit of a slow start. I could not put this book down until all the loose ends were properly tied up. Despite mixed feelings while reading this book, in the end, Beautiful Ugly was a fascinating exploration of a failing marriage and a unique island with a story to tell.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is the third book in The Empyrean, a stunning romantasy series about dragon riders at a war college. This series is the hottest thing in the romantasy world for a reason. It’s a series that’s filled with action, with a sweeping world of dragons, political intrigue, and awesome magic. This much-anticipated third installment had much to live up to, but Onyx Storm rose to the challenge, just like its heroine. This is a long book, but once you hit your stride with it, it doesn’t feel that way at all. I would happily sit and read 750 more pages without a second thought. The adventures these characters are on were my favorite thus far in the series. There’s nothing better than a found family on a quest to save the kingdom.
Leave a Reply