all the books i read in january 2023 🐇 cozy fantasy, short novellas, thrillers, and hell bent

[@caricanread]

Forgot to mention that the Stolen Heir gets bonus points for being set in New Jersey lol. I also made you a playlist based on how Chain of Thorns made me feel :') open.spotify.com/playlist/6K2rXHaRCU8kKv6zsjoRTf?si=1a39f22a325b4207

[@khalilahd.]

As a New Jersey native show just finished the book, I agree 😅❤

[@Lilithmaynot]

The link isn't working for me :( is there any way to look up the Playlist?

[@caricanread]

@@Lilithmaynot you can search caricakes and i should come up^^

[@radix2830]

Had the playlist playing in the background during the Video. Made it even better

[@Lilithmaynot]

@@caricanread thank you!

[@sarah_serif]

This is such a little thing but I love that you put the title of the book up in the corner, it makes it so easy to look them up without having to rewind!

[@caricanread]

[@bl12]

@@caricanreadin my opinion I would still like the cover of the book in the corner too. It helps me remember the book for later (being able to recognize the cover if I forget the title)

[@Lillyjoy]

@@bl12 me too!

[@joelleblanc8670]

Fun fact: the authors of "This is How You Lose the Time War" were binge watching "Steven Universe" while writing it.

[@caricanread]

LOL!

[@khalilahd.]

Love this 😂

[@Weirder_the_better]

That checks out 😂

[@ohhmangos]

I have never read this book, but that is hilarious

[@danielleoliver1734]

Good girls guide to murder is a really good book to listen to with all the interviews and voice recordings, the audio helps immersion into the story. The second book is even better and the final book is crazy and just needs to be experienced

[@caricanread]

oh yeah i bet the audiobook is great for that!

[@sumpfmaus8887]

One of the best audiobook production I have ever listened to :)

[@erensalias]

I loooved the fantasy elements of legends and lattes because of its nod to DND!! I play dnd and I totally interpreted the book as somebody writing about the normal life their character wants to live after having a crazy life during the campaign. I felt so seen with the fantasy elements and loved the vibe of “I’m giving my character a happy ending. Those are just my two cents tho, absolutely loved the video!

[@caricanread]

oh yeah i wasnt complaining about that! just thought it was very funny hahaha

[@joalgustas6498]

Also, look at you CRUSHING January with all the books you read!! You go girl!!

[@heavenlybibliophile]

i went to the london event the author of legends and lattes had last year and he said he’s writing a prequel set in the same world but with a bookstore instead of café which is exciting 💗

[@heatherdantonioedwards2262]

Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan!!!! SO SO beautiful, you have to read these next. You won’t regret it!

[@pimposaur]

Legends and Lattes was such a good slice of life book. So calm and comforting 🥰

[@umagonz]

I re-watch cari's videos everyday so when a new one comes out it's a treat. See you at the book club live 💖

[@caricanread]

wahhhh see you soon!

[@pendragon2012]

Can’t wait to dig in. Good reading month sounds like. Was for me too. I very much enjoy your take on books! Have a great week, Cari!

[@caricanread]

have a great week too!!

[@meganbillings7189]

I was just wishing for a new Cari video! The book gods have blessed me

[@caricanread]

[@akrasias]

just want to quickly thank you for always captioning your vids, it's so helpful and i appreciate it sm!!

[@caricanread]

no problem! thanks!!

[@sphinxinherhat]

I read This is How You Lose the Time War just this last year. It was one of the things I commented on in my Goodreads review that I thougnt that this would be a perfect time of year to read it -- i.e. around Valentine's Day; because it really captures the euphoiria of falling hard for someone. Like you're not sure you have the words to say, but you still have to try.

[@rynrose81]

Not gonna lie I was STRESSED about your Hell Bent review because I *loved* Ninth House (I haven’t formed an opinion on Hell Bent yet but I think I will once I reread it). But yes, you are completely right that Ninth House is SO SO good on the second read especially. I wish more people would give it a second chance. Hell Bent is way less confusing 😅

[@caricanread]

yessss!!!

[@rynrose81]

@@missallisnow same! I absolutely ate it up. To me it felt like the leveling up of the flashback-style storytelling Bardugo gives us in Six of Crows. The thing that made NH confusing to me was the setting and all the different locations in it. I thought that was why other people found the book confusing too but maybe not? And I read somewhere that Bardugo might make it a trilogy or longer…? we shall see… 👀

[@noramarie2891]

A good girls guide to murder, is one of my favorite series of all time. I read it a couple of years ago, and i'm 17 now, so i think it works best for people around my age. But you should definetly try to read the entire series, because i personaly loved the last book the most. All of them are good, but the last book: As good as dead, it crazy good and full of wilde stuff that wasn't in the first two. Like the last book took the series up a notch.

[@soof2838]

About Ninth House: at first Leigh speculated there’d be around 5 books in the series, but she has confirmed it will now be a trilogy! Tbh I don’t have a formed opinion on which format would’ve worked best for this universe (since the ending of Hell Bent wasn’t a cliffhanger, there’s no knowing how many plot points will develop and have to be resolved in the next one 👀). I guess we’re waiting for the third book to find out how well it all wraps up :)

[@caricanread]

yeah i was surprised to hear about the 3rd book because of how hell bent ended but im down for more of the universe!!

[@tattooedkittykat]

I'm still SCREAMING at the ending of the Stolen Heir. I need the second book like NOW. P.S. Cari you sly sly minks...I'm sucked into The Remnant Chronicles. I'm on the last audiobook now and it's so addictive. Thank you for recommending it 😆

[@caricanread]

omg yesssssss

[@tattooedkittykat]

@@caricanread It's very reminiscent of The Queen's Rising & The Queen's Resistance by Rebecca Ross. Didn't think I would get sucked in this deep 🙈

[@sof338]

I just bought Emily Wilde's encyclopedia and I cant wait to read it

[@caricanread]

wahhh hope you like it!

[@Tori__1985]

I've been waiting this vid for so long!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@caricanread]

[@julianavaz8000]

I need a Folk of the Air video series “so you don’t have to read it” like the ones you made for Sarah J Maas!! It would be amazing 🪴

[@Lia_Lee]

i totally agree about ninth house and hell bent!! i was really excited for hell bent but decided to reread ninth house because i couldn't for the life of me remember what happened, but it was sooooo much better on my 2nd read-through - which made hell bent even more enjoyable.

[@lindslovely]

Cari here to save our Thursday 😊

[@caricanread]

😊😊😊

[@brooke-d]

I've been hanging for a new vid, thanks Cari!

[@caricanread]

thank youuuu!

[@KYX1994]

I'm heading to bed, but I'm saving this to watch tomorrow during work's breaks😊 Also, leaving some KU recommendations that might maybe be your cup of tea👀 - "Fly with the Arrow" by Sarah K. L. Wilson (1st in a 4 books completed series) - "The Gods of Men" by Barbara Kloss (1st in a 3 books completed series) - "Bride Of The Shadow King" by Sylvia Mercedes (1st in a 3 books incompleted series; I think the 3rd should come out in December 2023) - "In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Cece Louise (can be read as standalone) - "Heart of Shadow" by Sarah K. L. Wilson (1st in a 3 books completed series) - "All Downhill With You" by Julie Olivia (romance, 1st in a series of books that can be read as standalones)

[@alyssahaagenson332]

You should definitely continue "A good girls guide to murder" I wasn't the biggest fan of the first one but the next two took me on a wild ride

[@rudainareaz8762]

yay it's new cari video day :') so excited to watch!!

[@caricanread]

thank you :''')

[@Allison-fs6bq]

Thank you for the trigger warnings ❤ even if I don’t read something myself I always appreciate hearing your reviews

[@irisolympia]

i’m half way through ninth house right now (i’ve literally read 3 OTHER books in the middle of reading it because it’s kinda…challenging) and so you saying that makes me feel SO much better lol

[@taylorparis7228]

So happy you changed your opinion of The Folk of The Air books. Love The Cruel Prince! Jude kicks serious ass

[@SnorriSnibble]

Absolutely agree about Ninth House. When I first read it I thought the beginning was slow and a bit confusing, but I overall really enjoyed the book. But it’s even better on the second read, I re-read it before reading Hellbent and I flew through it, it’s basically one of my absolute favorite books now, haha.

[@EquiFlo]

I just finished sorcery of thorns and loved it! Currently reading mysteries of Thorn Manor and also loving that and the fact I could stay a little longer in this world

[@lem_moon]

I really loved AGGGTM and the trilogy as a whole. Not sure if you'd like the next two books as you weren't keen on the first, but it does get crazier and wilder! I enjoyed it 😁

[@gogumarshmallow]

just read "the secret society of irregular witches". i agree that the smut came left field and i think the book would have better without it! i also think the ending was pretty poop. 90% was so good ;_; im convinced that she ran out of time for a solid ending. it was so good and i finally realized what a cozy book felt like..until the ending T-T. i am waiting on legends and lattes

[@larisaschreiber3146]

Omg! Last night I was searching around and spotted the Heather Fawcett books - The Grace of Wild Things. I mean... Anne of Green Gables with magic and witches...oh bring it on!!! So glad her Encyclopedia book got the Cari seal of approval🙌! But I'm gonna read The Mysteries of Thorn Manor first 😉. Thx again Cari, you're the best!!

[@caricanread]

yes i cant wait!

[@Kenough_in_Wonderland]

Just finished Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia and it's a new all-time favourite, that book made me just ever so happy 🧚🏻‍♀️

[@carolineblueskies]

Oh I didn't realize Stolen Heir had come out! Will definitely try it, I loved the Cruel Prince trilogy. I've seen pretty mixed reviews for Chain of Thorns so far, so I'm nervous to read it! Edit to say, cozy fantasy is totally the vibe for 2023. I'm so here for it.

[@darcyreads]

Yayyy!! Been waiting for this since I saw this in your IG stories 🥹 I would say that Legends and Lattes is like a video game where every level you unlock new recipes, new equipments. It’s such a cozy and charming book that it became one of my favorite books ever. A perfect palate cleanser in between high fantasy books.

[@MariaSanchez-cf7tf]

I finally got to read sorcery of thorns this month! See you at the live stream, cari!

[@caricanread]

yeeee!

[@brookedannar242]

Thank you for the relatability regarding Ninth House and Hell Bent being “confusing as hell.” Leigh Bardugo is a brilliant author and worth the struggle. I’m 2/3 through Hell Bent and enjoying it more as well!

[@mdsnvr]

ahh i can’t wait to watch!!

[@caricanread]

thank you!

[@lailakay666]

Definitely continue AGGGTM! The rest of the series is great.

[@Jordanakern]

I think the good girls guide series does get better as it goes on, the other two books follow different mystery’s while intertwining with the overarching mystery. I like the other ones better but age wise-they all read very ya

[@Showtunediva]

I just finished Legends & Lattes! It is so good!

[@Nana_Olafsson]

The only book I read in january was "Ghost Music". It took my three afternoons. How booktubers are able to read 225 pages in an hour is mind blowing to me. Like how is this even possible? But then I stopped reading "Ghost Music" to listen to the classical music pieces mentioned in the story. Then I ordered a mushroom growing kit. It was a wild ride 😊🍄

[@yasminepanda]

Ghost music and stories from tenets sound so good.. I am currently reading the secret garden, but I am definitely going to read those next.. 🧡

[@caricanread]

hope you enjoy!!

[@chaosandwildflowers782]

I think a big part of the reason that so many books come across as stand-alones only to have an announcement of a sequel, and then a full series is that authors are being *strongly* encouraged by the publishing industry to write "stand-alone books with series potential," because it makes it easier for publishers to pick up new books with fewer strings attached. You can still get an agent and maybe even a book deal if you've got a whole series already in the works, but your chances are EXPONENTIALLY higher if you can hit that sweet spot where the publisher doesn't feel too attached, but if you do well they can run with your success and milk you for all your worth (not to be cynical lmao, didn't realize I had such strong feelings until just now)

[@00moon]

Stories from the tenants downstairs is going into my tbr thank you!

[@roselilac8718]

Perfect timing!!

[@caricanread]

yeee!

[@kaliskingdom7557]

I love your book wrap ups so much!! For a good girls guide to murder, I absolutely loved the first and second books, but the third was not my favorite.

[@fnejdcbhbvdsh]

Omg I was looking forward for this video 📚💙. Thank u for always having Eng subs :3

[@caricanread]

[@nonbinarychaoticstupid6678]

tihylttw is one of my favourite books of all time

[@tea.a9511]

i loved a good girl’s guide to murder so i’m partial lol but i think it definitely gets better in terms of characters and higher stakes, especially the last one:)

[@Tori__1985]

Aaaaaa you are talkinh about chain of thorns!!!! 🥳🥳🥳

[@caricanread]

not yet hehe

[@LeoGirl80]

The perfect ending to my Thursday? This video! 😊

[@caricanread]

hahah hope you have had a good week!

[@LeoGirl80]

@@caricanread Hope you did as well, and that the upcoming week rocks as well! 🖤

[@nattyism]

your voice is so relaxing, i absolutely love listening to it

[@azkashaykh8054]

Thank you for saving my Thursday 🥹

[@ap0llogetic427]

I may have only read 2 books this January but that's more than the previous 2 januarys combined so I'm proud of myself :)) also it's not like I have a lot of time sadly but this year already looks a lot more promising with reading so I'm excitef

[@bookoffholicbookwart5945]

I totally agree with your views on lessons in chemistry. I expected it to be something, it became totally something else. Trigger warnings are must for that book

[@caricanread]

yeah once i realized what was happening my heart BURST

[@benjaminbrelje2289]

I'm super excited to see how been on this list of yours I just finished it yesterday and it was pretty great I thought

[@benjaminbrelje2289]

I mean I thought hell-bent was better than ninth house

[@00moon]

I have the SoT novella I can't wait to start reading it as soon as I finish the current book (T Kingfisher) I miss Nathaniel!!!

[@nyxqueenofshadows]

i've had my eye on ghost music, this just makes me want to read it more!

[@tineye5100]

I loved the time jumps in Ninth House quite a lot.

[@SarahHernandez-zs7jv]

NOT THE PIPPA SLANDER. but yes, I liked the series as it continued on. The second book is more about her trying to find an old friend and the third book focuses on her PTSD. They are still kind of high-school level but are a lot of fun

[@yelenskareads]

Since you mentioned a talking mushroom, I couldn’t not spend my audible credit of the month on Ghost Music! And it's quite interesting so far. :) As for The Stolen Heir, I really enjoyed it but it took me a long time to get into it after the prologue and chapter 1 which were really strong but after that it's a lot of walking around and not understanding what's going on. Then at some point it gets interesting again and I really loved the rest 😍

[@lejenni7591]

Best way to start my day with this video and a can of tea😊

[@Meowlo]

I paused to screen cap that chronological order for the Shadow Hunter series lol. It's been so long since I've read them that I just want to start over and do it chronologically, so thanks for that.

[@caricanread]

hehe enjoy!

[@bunny_koo]

Hii 🙈❤️ missed you cari

[@caricanread]

thank you :')

[@seolarsi]

I had no idea you lived in Korea! I truly aspire to be you in every way haha. I know that sounds weird but your videos are so comforting for me and actually inspired me to start reading again this year. I've read so much and I've truly enjoyed it. So, just so you know, you're so inspiring just by doing what you're doing and I hope one day to be like you. ♥️

[@DidiAphra]

I felt the same way after reading Hell Bent! I didn't know what to do with myself because I was so sad that I finished it

[@hansiniede3385]

UM DIDN'T KNOW that Sorcery of Thorns got a continuation... will def be picking that up!

[@allielilia3794]

never stop making videos

[@joalgustas6498]

Yayyyy!! Been waitinggggg!! Hope you had fun in Japan :) sending love from Buffalo, NY

[@aashmanibhadane3175]

I loved your acotar recap videos so much! They were my saving grace especially the crescent city series because my friend loves sjm and I don't. She likes discussing them and now I can because I watched your video! Point being would you pleeeaaasssseeeee start cassandra clare recaps too? Totally upto you, i don't wanna sound imposing and rude but pleaaassseeeeeeee Also, I love you

[@mnlxlover00]

I agree with you, Cari, that Holly Black is a magnificent storyteller. She's just simply amazing at fairytales, but especially writing for the Fae. 💗 I read The Stolen Heir 4 days after it came out and loveddd it!! 😍 It was definitely very different from The Cruel Prince trilogy, but I kinda liked the change. And I thought the romance was pretty cute. Def not as hard-hitting as Jurdan (since NOTHING tops them in my eyes haha), but it was sweet. And that CLIFFHANGER??!! ILLEGAL!!! JAIL TIME RN FOR HOLLY!!! 😫🤍😭

[@caricanread]

yeah me thinking this was a standalone and reading the ending like......

[@eminokia]

Emily Wildes is my new favorite book ahh i love it so much

[@caricanread]

she has a new one coming out next week!

[@juliettebodell3219]

My library doesn't have Legends and Lattes which is so sad. But I recently picked it up on a trip to Melbourne and I am so happy with that because Melbourne is the city of coffee and cafes. I'm saving it for a rainy day though.

[@Abby-bv6zv]

Book of Night by Holly Black is actually the only book I was able to read last semester, I loved it.

[@natwone]

It's weird, I actually got into Ninth House because i listened to the audio book. I guess the reader did a phenomenal job because i didn't struggle with the jumps as much. I also flew through hell bent. At one point (one of the rituals) i felt extremely anxious and tense (in a good way). Haven't felt this much since a long time while reading!

[@ohhmangos]

I was waiting for your thoughts on The Stolen Heir before I bought it! Expected to come tomorrow😁

[@nicolecollins6650]

Love your channel and everything you read is what I want to read lol or have read and we are so similar. Love you keep up the great work so cool that you live in Korea too that's awesome!! ❤️

[@Princesstayler9]

Cari, have you read A Discovery of Witches? There are 4 books so far. The author is recovering from cancer so that's why more haven't been released. I think technically you can read 1-3 without 4 and whatever else releases as a trilogy. But, it is one of my favorite series I read last year and read 4 this passed month. I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia to Faeries. I definitely saw Wendell as Howl. There is a second book coming out of that at some point...no idea how many books she will get out of that. I loved The Stolen Heir. I was so glad Holly went back to writing about faeries because Spiderwick was the first thing I ever read by her and how I got into everything faeries. She just does faeries so well. Going to be honest, I probably will never read anymore Cassandre Clare. I had a friend who loved/I guess still loves her books and the show and movie and I was never into any of it (I saw the movie recently...I love Jamie Campbell Bower, but that was not it. And the girl from the show is in a show I watch now and love her acting.). Then after the "Percy Jackson" rip-off she wrote with Holly Black - I read it because of wanting to read everything Holly Black and it was just meh. I could have did without it and that's how I see the whole Mortal Instruments world too. Just my opinion.

[@trishna_saha]

about continuing AGGGTM: i love the series so i'd obviously tell you to continue but I will say, book 2 is very meh other than the ending, which is heartwrenching and the twist is truly amazing, but the majority of the book is a little boring so idk, but book 3 is genuinely one of the most beautiful thrillers I've ever read so I would ask you to continue. And about pip jumping to conclusions all the time is actually explored as a negative character trait in the next two books and we get to see her evolve so it's really nice and I think you would really like the third book.

[@avamarlow5989]

I just came across your channel a few days ago when I found your ACOTAR breakdowns & watched them. They were so great! Since I haven’t seen any of your older videos yet I wanted to ask if you’ve read The Emperor’s Edge series by Lindsay Buroker? If not, I would highly recommend if you are looking for a fantasy first, romance second series. And bonus, all of the books are already out so there’s no waiting for the next release. I was in a reading slump when I found it, & the series definitely brought me out of it. Just wanted to make a suggestion in case you haven’t read it. It’s an older series…I think early 2010’s. I think it’s a decent fantasy series though. It at least grabbed my attention and kept me invested throughout.

[@Best_Stressed]

I got so excited when I thought "The Thief" was referring to the first book in Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series. Read the Queen's Thief series, people!! It's like a gentler, more Greek-myth version of Leigh Bardugo and it's criminally under-known.

[@luvraion]

have you ever read shatter me? I know the books are really really popular but I would LOVE to see your opinion on it, good and bad. I think you are very similar to me when it comes to reading books, not just for the romance but by the story and the character building and the plot, I'm a new watcher so if you already have I would I love to see what video it's in!

[@emilyf4178]

Have you read The War Of Lost Hearts trilogy? Almost flawless in my opinion. I loved it so much.

[@addisynadkins9265]

i am currently on the last book of AGGGTM and i will say i do think they get a bit better along the way but i’m unsure how you will feel about them still LOL also i’m listening to the audiobooks and i think the audiobooks definitely help with the pacing and they are so well done!

[@abigailanngriffith]

You are the best 👏🏻

[@orange_tea]

Octopuses (Octopi?) May not be able to talk but they absolutely are judgy lol. So many books for January how exiting!

[@llaveante]

about "a good girls guide to murder": i read the trilogy last summer and absolutely fell in love with it, one of my favourite series of all time. but i must say i would have loved it more too if i read it back in middle school/high school. my personal favourite was the second one, the crime is lowkey better and the plot twist in this one… wow. the third one kinda threw me off like it did with a lot of other people since the protagonist, pip, is kinda acting weird/different which is explainable with all the stuff that happened in the last two books but it still makes you scream at the book at some actions she takes

[@haleymckay2067]

This is a pretty big request but could you do an “explaining the plot” for Mortal Instruments? I want to read the Shadowhunter books but really don’t want to trudge through the first series

[@howelljenkinshsgf]

nathaniel thorn gives me howl vibes 😌

[@lunazwolf]

Oh my god I'm never this early I'm so happy

[@caricanread]

[@lunazwolf]

@@caricanread Just want to say love you and your videos

[@carnelianrain4259]

However, the ninth house was.. it wasn't bad at all, but I couldn't like it as much as I wanted to because I was getting literal DejaVu of "THE Dark Vault" duology by V.E. Schwab so much.. especially during the action sequences, and dark vault is so so so good, sadly ninth house couldn't keep up with the thrill and excitement of dark vault and honestly I predicted who is the main villian of the book at 70% into the book (bummer). And when she was running after all the other characters except her, it pissed me even more.

[@bluebird7198]

Yeah.. I totally understand.. I read the dark vault after ninth house when I read a goodread comment about the underwhelming inspiration and definitely dark vault is superior

[@maikaun1116]

I wonder, cari, have you read the dark vault?

[@laashya9248]

🩶 the dark vault 🚪

[@caricanread]

is this a dark vault bot? hahahha

[@Atomantia]

Swordheart is a cozy fantasy I think you’d enjoy

[@mayakl]

24:27 The Violin Conspiracy was a DNF for me. I love the concept but there was just TOO much information about the violin itself and the mystery was very predictable. I think someone who has more knowledge on instruments might like it more than me, but it still felt very much like the author’s first book (which it is). It wasn’t for me but someone else may love it!

[@tinagarcia3571]

I read the Half a Soul series then Legends and Lattes, i think I burned myself out on cozy and warm or I am a terrible human, no more of that for me. I started Mysteries of Thorn Manor but Chain of Thorns showed up so I put a book mark in that cute little book , Now it is time for me to slowly savor Chain of Thorns. OMG! Stephanie Meyer announced two new Twilight books!

[@caricanread]

wahhh enjoy! and omg no hahahha

[@tinagarcia3571]

@@caricanread yep! my nieces will lose their collective minds. LOL!

[@ruth711moon]

I have been wanting to read legends and lattes so badly but I have not convinced myself to buy it yet

[@Tarmachan]

It's honestly so worth it, it was one of my top 5 last year. It really is so cosy and comforting as a slice of life story that happens to be set in a fantasy world.

[@rachithaavat4039]

Oohh i remember reading a good girls guide to murder when it was really popular on tiktok. I remember thinking that the villain was kinda weird and it was a weird choice to pick. It was kinda mid for me.

[@caricanread]

it was all around a very odd book haha

[@BethEades]

I’m pretty sure they changed a lot for the US publication which made it extra weird too? Like some stuff didn’t translate over well