It’s already been another week, but somehow it is still January. I know it’s like this every year, but I still never expect January to drag on the way it always does. This is the time of year that New England weather is at its least hospitable, and there’s lots of illness going around. My poor kiddo missed some school this week because she wasn’t feeling too well. All things considered, it’s an excellent time of year to curl up under some blankets with a good book or two. Here’s the reading I got done this week!

1. The Elf Witch – Jacquelyn Gilmore

CW: Graphic Violence/Gore, SA, Self-Mutilation, Graphic Depictions of Sex & Sex Work, Racism (Among Non-Humans), Classism, Slut-shaming

As I mentioned last week, I was lucky enough to get an advance reader copy of the ebook for The Elf Witch. (I want to give a very big thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC!) This one was an absolutely wild ride. Last week I had only read the first half, and mentioned that the rapid pace was difficult to keep up with in the beginning. Although the action never slows down, the reader learns the rules of the world and its magical system along the way and it becomes easier to follow. After a while, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was frantic to know what was going to happen next.

What was unusual about this story compared to most of what I read, and much of fiction as a whole, was that the narrative doesn’t focus on the good guys. “Morally gray” is an understatement. These are the villains. The main character has plenty of excuses for her behavior, but never once professes innocence nor selflessness. Despite her lack of virtue, it’s a lot of fun watching as she learns not to blink at bloodshed. There’s certainly a lot of it. This is a thrilling and brutal origin story. I’m now waiting for the second installment before the first is even officially released.

The official publication will be on March 11th. I suspect that’s when it can be purchased through sites like Bookshop.org that I usually link to when writing these recaps. Right now it is currently available for preorder on amazon. Your local independent bookstore can probably special order you a copy if they don’t already have a shipment coming.

2. Confronting the Chasm: Stories of Reconciliation – L.M. Guiled, Jane Lebak, Gloria Lloyd, Elle Reid, Kathleen Reidy, Nancy Temple, Howard Wolke & Sean Zinn

CW: Domestic Violence, Loss of Parent, Pet Loss, Dementia, Child Loss

As you may have gathered from the title of this one, it’s a collection of short stories. Confronting the Chasm consists of 8 stories all penned by members of the MetroWest Writer’s Guild. I was beyond grateful to be accepted into the guild last year, and have been familiarizing myself with the work of other members. After reading through these selections, the honor I feel at the association has deepened.

I always enjoy seeing how different writers will interpret a prompt for the same project. As the title describes, the theme for each of these stories is “reconciliation.” When I hear that word, there are specific emotions and types of storylines that spring into my head that are all very similar. A couple of these fellow writers heard the same and yet produced something drastically different. Each narrative has its own tone and an ending that defines “reconciliation” in its own way. Each is a facet of the same gleaming gem. It’s been mere hours since I put the book down, but I’m already sure that scenes from its pages will live vividly in my mind for many years to come.

More January Still to Come

It’s still January for most of the rest of this week too. I’ll probably finish at least one more book before the month is out. Next Monday I’ll be back with my first recap of February! While it’s the shortest month if you count its days, most years it feels awfully long in New England. I suspect that many of the coming days will be perfect for snuggling up by the fire with a good book to read.

In addition to my weekly recaps, I’m tracking my reading activity this year on StoryGraph. I don’t track page progression, audiobooks, nor anything I read to my daughter in a single sitting. There’s a chance that will change in the future, but I remain undecided. You’re welcome to follow!

As always, I want to hear from you! What have you been reading lately? Are you having fun with it? Have you read any of these titles, and if so, what did you think of them? Tell me everything, and follow along for more!