January 2026 reading wrap up

Dreadful was such a fun twist on the classic “evil wizard” fantasy trope. The premise alone hooked me: a supposedly terrifying dark wizard wakes up with amnesia and slowly realises that his past self might have been… well, kind of dreadful.

The humour in this book really worked for me. It pokes fun at fantasy conventions while still telling a genuinely engaging story. Watching the main character piece together who he used to be — and then decide whether he wants to stay that person — was surprisingly thoughtful underneath all the rest of the chaos happening outside this dilemna.

If you enjoy fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously (i.e. Terry Pratchett or Tom Holt) but still has heart, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

(Thank you to Erin for picking this as one of my 12 in 12 books!)

I talked a little about All Superheroes Need PR in my T5T post a few weeks ago. It was a really interesting concept. What happens when a superhero’s public image is a complete disaster and he needs a professional PR expert to fix it?

The workplace dynamic between the PR strategist and the superhero was fun (although wildly against any HR policy I’ve ever seen). And I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at how a hero’s reputation might actually be managed. The idea itself felt fresh in a genre that can sometimes lean too heavily on familiar tropes.

For me, the pacing dipped a little in the middle, the story really needed some clearer direction, the world-building was confusing as hell, and please don’t ask me to talk about using trauma as a plot device. But the premise carried it through and still made it a (mostly) enjoyable read overall.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

(This was The Romance Revelry Society’s book club read for January.)

Am I slowly making my way through the entirity of Elle Kennedy’s long backlist? Who could say? (I mean, I could probably say. And yes. Yes, I am.)

Elle Kennedy writes reliably entertaining romance, and Sweet Talker definitely falls into that category. It’s part of the revamped Out of Uniform series, and this is Texas’ book.

The banter between the main characters was sharp and easy to read, and it had that fast-paced contemporary romance feel that makes it easy to fly through in a couple of sittings.

While I enjoyed it, this one didn’t quite reach the heights of some of Kennedy’s other books for me, and sadly, was relatively forgettable. Still, if you’re in the mood for a light, flirty romance with plenty of chemistry, it delivers exactly what it promises.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

Valentine’s Slay is part of the newest Amazon short story collection, and the only one of this bunch that I’ve read.

It was a fun seasonal read with a funny, but dark, plot. Essentially it’s a second chance romance involving a gravedigger and the girl he found who was buried alive. The Valentine’s theme added a playful element to the story, but underneath that was a romance that leaned a bit more chaotic and intense than your typical holiday-themed book. Such as Navessa Allen does.

I enjoyed the vibe of it — it felt like the perfect kind of book to pick up around February — but I did find myself wishing the story had a little more space to fully develop its ideas. And at only 95 pages long, there’s probably not much more I can say about it.

Still, it was a solidly entertaining, yet somewhat forgettable, read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

Brigands and Breadknives was easily my favourite book of the month.

Travis Baldree has such a gift for writing cosy fantasy that still feels like a real adventure. Or like a D&D campaign. And much like a D&D campaign, I never know where these books will go. But in a weirdly comforting way.

The world is warm, welcoming, and full of charming characters, and there’s still enough story momentum to keep everything moving. And in fact, of the three Legends and Lattes books out, this one definitely had the most action. And the least Viv. For whatever that’s worth. (For reference, I quite like Viv. But Zyll was 100 times better, and I seriously hope she gets another book. There are not enough chaos goblins in the world. In fiction or irl.)

What I loved most was the way the characters dealt with their failings. It’s so heartfelt and genuine that you can’t help but understand everyone’s point of view.

For me, this is the kind of book I want to curl up with on a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea. Perhaps a cat. Maybe a summer thunderstorm outside. That mix of humour, heart, and gentle adventure made it an absolute delight to read.

If you’re a fan of character driven or quest-based fantasy, this one is an absolute must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)