It’s that time of year again!
Time to set a new reading goal for the year. The last several years I have set a goal of 75 books. I nearly doubled it with 145 books in 2018. Do you have reading goals? How do you track them? I love Goodreads because I can create shelves, lists and make notes on what I read. The Language of Thorns is my first completed book of the year and it definitely started the year off well!
The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
First line: In the year that summer stayed too long, the heat lay upon the prairie with the weight of a corpse.
Summary: A collection of five fairy tales and legends told by the best-selling author, Leigh Bardugo, brings the reader into a mystical world filled with enchanted nutcrackers, mermaids and witches.
Highlights: I absolutely loved these short stories. Bardugo is a master of world building and atmosphere. I have read several of her novels and enjoyed each one. She can do so much in just a few pages.
By far my favorite of the stories was the story of Clara and the nutcracker. It seems like we know this story but Bardugo puts her own twist on it making it darker and more intriguing.
The pages are stunning with their artwork at the borders. Each page adds more imagery that enhances the story. Plus, if you have read her books (Grisha Trilogy and Dregs Duology) you will find little Easter eggs embedded in the tales. I highly recommend this collection to anyone who loves fantasy and Russian style fairy tales.
FYI: If you enjoyed this then try the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. I read the third book in December and was once again blown away by Arden’s story telling abilities.