🥶 What I Read In January 2026

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you, NetGalley and Verve Books for granting my request for this ARC.

I didn't want to start this book. I put it off for so long that it was about to expire on the NetGalley app and so I knew I had to start it. Not because I thought it was going to be a bad book. Totally the opposite. I knew I would love every page. The thing stopping me is because this is the last in a series of books that I have absolutely adored, and I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet. Thankfully, I was far from disappointed. 

Lizzie Hardwicke is investigating the gruesome murder of a fellow harlot, but one who walks the streets. The poor woman has also been branded with a V on her face. Since Lizzie has become so good at investigating murders, she endeavours to solve this murder, espeically given that her friend, and the magistrate's main man William Davenport has not returned to London. Things take a turn for the worst when her own estranged brother is accused of the murder. Now Lizzie has even more of a reason to investigate. 

As the murders continue to mount up, Lizzie becomes more and more suspicious of the mysterious Devil's Brotherhood, where gentlemen gather to drink, gamble, scheme and spend time with local harlots.

As if all this isn't enough, things are becoming more difficult at Berwick Street. Home is no longer the safe place it once was, what with Mr Farley making his dangerous presence known, and Ma drowning herself in drink. 

Lizzie finds herself in all manner of dangerous situations, some of which may cost her her own life. But she is determined to find out the responsible party, all while keeping her fingers crossed that her brother is not guilty. 

This was a page turner of a book, and a fitting final book in the wonderful series of books about Lizzie Hardwicke. I am so sad to say goodbye to Lizzie, Will, and the other wonderful characters in this book, but I'm glad they had a wonder send off.  

My Rating: 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵 🩵

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for allowing me access to this ARC. 

This book is a masterpiece from start to finish. It's like the Hunger Games but with Romans and vampires. Never thought that whole combo would work, but it's magnificent. It's an epic page turner.

Arvelle is a young woman living in a rough neighbourhood, looking after her younger brothers. When a vampire offers her a deal, she decides to take it, even though it could mean the end of her life. She must enter the Sundering, which is a competition where she must progress and live through various dangerous challenges to become a member of the emperor's elite guard. But her real mission is to kill the emperor, who is an ancient vampire. While there, she is given the chance to train, allowing her time to get to know her fellow competitors and the guards who protect the emperor. Things get even more dangerous when the emperor's son takes a shine to her and discovers a secret she has long been hiding. 

You go through all the emotions with this book - from the highs to the lows. Arvelle is a fantastic character, and although she is putting up a wall around herself, it's quite beautiful to read when she starts chipping away at that wall, with the help of some of the others around her. 

This book really has it all - dangerous challenges, vampires, magic, romans, found family, romance, all culminating in a heart-stopping final few chapters. So happy that this is going to be a series of books, as I need more of Arvelle and this world. Roll on book 2!

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you, NetGalley and Inkubator Books for giving me this ARC. 

This was an enjoyable thriller with plenty of twists and turns throughout.

Amelia is working as a mobile beauty therapist, and living with her fiance Noah. He has been acting distantly recently, and then suddenly her clients start dropping her with little explanation. Adding to the mix, a new client has taken a shine to Amelia, and is constantly contacting her outside appointments asking for help. When she indicates that she may have known Noah from school Amelia's fears are heightened. Things start to unravel quickly in her life, and determined to put an end to the drama Amelia starts to do some investigating. Why are her clients leaving her, and does her fiance and new client have something to do with it?

I never knew where this story was going to go, and I was glad I was sitting down at the finale, as I didn't guess that at all. This will be a perfect book for anyone who likes strong female characters, plot twists galore and a jaw dropping finale. 

I started this, but just couldn't get into it. It's back on the tbr list. 

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you, Book Sirens, for granting me access to this ARC. 

This is a wonderful series of spooky stories, perfect for reading any time of the year. My personal favourite is My Corpse Candle, but they are all wonderful and spooky. If you love spooky tales, then you will love this book. 

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you to Book Sirens for allowing me to read this ARC. 

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the main character Jessa and the Victorian world mixed with magic is wonderful. Her mission to figure out what is happening in London with the strange tattoo, and the imminent death that it brings is awesome, and I was cheering her on the whole time. If you love mysteries with supernatural elements, then I think you'll love this book. 

 I have so many awesome books that I want to dive into in February. My two Book Club picks - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, and A Language of Dragons by SF Williamson are at the top of my eagerly anticipated list for the month. I have also started reading Six of Crows after having the paperback on my tbr list for an eternity. I'm so convinced that I'm going to read and love it in February that I have already got myself the second book in the duology. 

It's going to be such a good reading month.🤞