Happy 2020, friends! Welcome to my December 2019 wrap-up, and a bit of a branding tweak. I’ve changed my monthly recaps to Adventure Logs in keeping with my blog’s theme, which I fully intend on leaning into in 2020 & beyond!
December is a month where everyone reflects on the past eleven months (I originally typed ‘elven’ haha), looks forward to the new year, and scrambles to finish the goals they set for themselves. I was no exception. Overall, I am pretty proud of everything I accomplished in 2019, especially in light of everything going on IRL, even though I didn’t meet goals.
Most of my spoons have been spent on the 2019 Bookish Reader’s Choice Awards, which has been a lot of work but also a lot of fun! In case you missed it, the winners were announced on December 31st! 🎉
Reading
I read a total of 2,501 pages across 7 books in December. Which is just dismal, but I was pretty occupied with the Bookish Reader’s Choice Awards. And my slump reared its ugly head again: I only read maybe 8 days out of the month altogether.
I am still behind on reviews, but I hope to get them up on Goodreads at least in the next week to clean slate. (Two down as of right now!)
✨ As a quick reminder, I’ve done away with star ratings on my blog reviews. You can read more about my reasoning in this discussion post on ratings systems, but you can find my ratings on Goodreads!
My Favorite Read of December
Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity by Felicia Day was an unexpected delight.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t notice the tagline of the book when I downloaded my audiobook review copy from LibroFM. I just say “Felicia Day” and “Embrace Your Weird” and was like YES. But this book was not only fun, but really helpful!
Narrated by Felicia Day herself, this book is full of her special brand of quirky nerd and talks about tangible ways to try and combat the ways we hold ourselves back. Sure, it’s related to creativity but it honestly would be a great read for anyone struggling with anxiety, guilt, and procrastination in their lives.
ARCs/copies from author or publisher are noted below by an asterisk *
* Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1) by Rosaria Muda – I literally took the entire month of December to finish this book, which is a good personification of my reading slump in action. But did I really enjoy this book! | 📖 Full ARC review
*Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynne E. Maetani – this book is so good, friends! Fast-paced and atmospheric, but also with characters you can’t help but love. | 📖 Full ARC review 2/3/2020
My Lady Jane(The Lady Janies #1) b/y Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows – Sometimes what you need to banish a book hangover is historical fantasy where Lady Jane Grey is married to a man who spends his days as a horse. My Lady Jane made me howl with laughter, but it also tackles issues of privilege, sexism, classism, and persecution. | 📖 Full review
Prince Charming (Royals #1) by Rachel Hawkins – This was the December 2019 YA Book Club pick for Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore. It isn’t something I would have picked up on my own, but made for a fun evening read. This was a cute, fast, and fluffy read. Not a lot of depth but an enjoyable read… and if you are one for fake dating, enemies-to-lovers with biting British sarcasm, you’ll probably enjoy this one.
Her Royal Highness (Royals #2) by Rachel Hawkins – This book is a queer royal romance and I actually enjoyed this book more than Prince Charming. While there isn’t a lot of depth to the plot itself, the characters feel like real people with complex histories, and it is fun to dive a bit more in! I appreciate the world that Hawkins of crafting with the fictional book series that our characters enjoy and all the universe tie-ins. I’ve learned that the publisher won’t be continuing this series because it hasn’t sold well, which saddens me.
* A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier – After not reading at all for 8 days, this book called to me on Edelweiss when I was supposed to be writing my Anticipated Reads post. Despite the ARC ban, I downloaded it. BUT IT CURED MY SLUMP! It is such an adorable read, with a side of mystery and a tinge of maybe paranormal. | 📖 Full ARC review
Did Not Finish
None
December Statistics
Total Books Read: 7 | Total Pages Read: 2,501
Total Books Read in 2019: 91 Goodreads Reading Goal: 52 🎉
How am I doing? Well my “lololol but at least it’s just 2020 ARCs so 🙃” is no longer applicable because 2020 is here and I am now in a hell of my own making.
Pre-2020 ARCs: 16 (read 1)
2020 ARCs: 24 (read 2)
Finished in December: 3 (Fireborne, Seven Deadly Shadows, A Castle in the Clouds) ARC Reviews to Write: 2 (Fireborne, A Castle in the Clouds)
CW @ The Quiet Pond is hosting the #StartOnYourShelfAthon in 2020, a really fun and unique reading challenge that encourages you to read your owned TBRs!
Thank you, everyone, so much for visiting, liking, commenting, and sharing your bookish thoughts with me last month! I hope that you had a fantastic December, let me know how your month went in the comments below!
I'm Kal, a champion of books and boosting the voices of others who loves adventure. Reader Voracious Blog features bookish discussions, guides, and spoiler-free reviews of sci-fi, fantasy, speculative fiction, and mystery books.
Reader Voracious is where Kal's adventures in books & nature are explored.
Reading is reading and you were super busy this month so I think you did fantastic. I’m surprised to see your romances listed and can’t wait to see if you do reviews!
Hahaha, yea I didn’t hide them! I did review them both on Goodreads but it will be awhile, if ever, they pop up on the blog due to the mountain of reviews I need to get through.
December was the month where reading slump attacked me too ahaha I could barely finish the books I’m reading! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed Seven Deadly Shadows, can’t wait to read it next 🙂
Omg you read Seven Deadly Shadows? I’m super psyched for that one and can’t wait for its release! Congratulations on a good month and thank you so much for holding the bookish awards, they were amazing <3
I DID AND IT IS SO GOOD, CHARVI! I am on the blog tour for it, so my review will be up on February 4. Thanks so much for participating in the awards and happy reading to you!
I think December was one of the better months I had last year with everything, and I hope that means things are going to improve this year. Because I am bored. LOL. Yay for the spreadsheet, I am honored because you track your stuff on your own usually!
I loved your excel template, once again. 7 books in a month is not bad at all. If it were I would be shouting from the top of the mountain. But you do you, Kal. Have a great new year!
Thank you, Gayathri! And you are right, 7 books is amazing and I really need to stop chastizing myself for not being able to read as much as others ~even though I no longer work and do nothing all day every day~. I have a lot of guilt to work through, lol. Happy New Year!!!
Kal, you’re killing this already! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Have a lovely lovely year ahead filled with fantastic books with well done POVs, good pace, lovely world-building and lots of approvals! ♥️♥️♥️
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Reader Voracious supports Black Lives Matter and encourages you to get involved.
Jess
January 5, 2020 at 12:51 PMReading is reading and you were super busy this month so I think you did fantastic. I’m surprised to see your romances listed and can’t wait to see if you do reviews!
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 10:29 AMHahaha, yea I didn’t hide them! I did review them both on Goodreads but it will be awhile, if ever, they pop up on the blog due to the mountain of reviews I need to get through.
Tasya @ The Literary Huntress
January 6, 2020 at 2:24 AMDecember was the month where reading slump attacked me too ahaha I could barely finish the books I’m reading! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed Seven Deadly Shadows, can’t wait to read it next 🙂
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 10:30 AMI am so sorry to hear you were slumpin’ in December. I hope it’s gone now! Seven Deadly Shadows was so good, I hope you enjoy it as well!@
Charvi
January 6, 2020 at 5:24 AMOmg you read Seven Deadly Shadows? I’m super psyched for that one and can’t wait for its release! Congratulations on a good month and thank you so much for holding the bookish awards, they were amazing <3
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 10:31 AMI DID AND IT IS SO GOOD, CHARVI! I am on the blog tour for it, so my review will be up on February 4. Thanks so much for participating in the awards and happy reading to you!
Gerry
January 6, 2020 at 11:17 AMI love your stats Kal, I honestly think they make my mouth water. I don’t know what that says about me, probably nothing good!
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 10:32 AMIf it is bad, don’t worry… I have the same affliction!
Lisa @ waytoofantasy
January 6, 2020 at 2:46 PMGreat month, Kal! I’ve started using your spreadsheet and I love it, thanks for that resource!
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 10:33 AMI think December was one of the better months I had last year with everything, and I hope that means things are going to improve this year. Because I am bored. LOL. Yay for the spreadsheet, I am honored because you track your stuff on your own usually!
Gayathri
January 7, 2020 at 5:56 AMI loved your excel template, once again. 7 books in a month is not bad at all. If it were I would be shouting from the top of the mountain. But you do you, Kal. Have a great new year!
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 10:43 AMThank you, Gayathri! And you are right, 7 books is amazing and I really need to stop chastizing myself for not being able to read as much as others ~even though I no longer work and do nothing all day every day~. I have a lot of guilt to work through, lol. Happy New Year!!!
Kat @ Novels & Waffles
January 8, 2020 at 2:25 PMSeven Deadly Shadows is one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, so I’m SO GLAD to hear that you loved it!
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 11:15 AMIt was such a good read, and I actually thought of you while reading it — I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it when you read it!
Ahana Rao
January 9, 2020 at 6:40 AMKal, you’re killing this already! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Have a lovely lovely year ahead filled with fantastic books with well done POVs, good pace, lovely world-building and lots of approvals! ♥️♥️♥️
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 11:16 AMThank you so much, Ahana, and I wish the same for you in 2020 & beyond!
Lauren
January 9, 2020 at 3:06 PMKal i am so proud of you for everything youve achieved last year. Heres to 2020
Kal
January 10, 2020 at 11:25 AMOh my GOD thank you so much, bb! *hugs* I love you so much and hope 2020 is amazingggg
Haley
January 13, 2020 at 3:17 AMSeeing your ARC status update, I feel a spiritual connection to you now. I just wanted to say that.
Kal
February 16, 2020 at 2:00 PMThe feeling is mutual, love! WHY DO WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES?!!!