January Book of the Month

January was a month full of literary delights, featuring a quartet of captivating books that left me spellbound. Kicking off the month was the delightful "Check & Mate" by Ali Hazlewood, a surprising gem recommended to me by my book club. At first glance, a young adult sports romance centred around chess seemed unlikely to grip me, but Hazlewood's clever storytelling quickly proved me wrong. With endearing characters, palpable tension and a remarkably authentic sibling dynamic, this book turned out to be a formidable contender. Review: Check & Mate

The next book on my literary journey was Christopher Paolini's long-awaited "Murtagh", a thrilling sequel to the beloved Eragon series that fans have been eagerly awaiting for almost a decade. Paolini continues the saga masterfully, unravelling mysteries and providing long-awaited answers that have been a long time coming since we last ventured into the enchanting world of Alagaesia. Review: Murtagh 

As an ardent admirer of both the Netflix TV adaptation and video game universe of "The Witcher" series, the coincidence of the announcement that the series would be cancelled and the availability of the books on Kindle Unlimited seemed to be a message to take this silver lining. Eager to uncover the saga's conclusion, I dove into "The Last Wish" and " Sword of Destiny," the first two volumes of The Witcher series. These short story collections featuring the enigmatic Geralt of Rivia serve as the source material for the Netflix TV adaptations and offer a rich tapestry of intrigue and adventure. Review: The Last Wish  

In a month filled with anticipation and resolution, "Murtagh" clinched the top spot for me and entered the coveted position in the first quarter-final.