This Week: January 25th

News and Updates

Last weekend it was snow…this weekend it’s ice. I’m scheduling this to post automatically because we will likely be offline Sunday – living in the country means ice storms bring power outages and other challenges. I hope you are safe and warm today, and finding lots of time to read!

This Week

It’s dystopian week for our reading challenge and, honestly, that feels about right after seeing yesterday’s news out of Minnesota and the other global implications of our leader’s recent actions. We have two great books this week that would fit this prompt – I encourage you to read both!

Monthly Reading Challenge: Science Fiction

Weekly Reading Challenge: Dystopian

This is one of those super popular books I’ve put off reading because I wasn’t sure I’d like it as much as everyone else. I loved it, but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

One note – while reading this one it felt like watching the news. The vans pulling up with men in black jumping out to grab people off the street for what appears to be no reason. The public executions and explanation that they were criminals and it was for the betterment of us all. The deportations to third world countries, sometimes by mistake. Minnesota – you are living this and I can’t imagine what that must be like.

If you’re looking for other great books for this prompt, try one of these reads recommended by our StoryGraph community:

1984, George Orwell
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
Divergent, Veronica Roth
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

New This week

I saw this book on the list of new releases this week and added it to my cart immediately! Kate Alice Marshall brings a thriller with plenty of romance in A Killing Cold. If you loved some of the recent thrillers we reviewed, I think you’ll love this one.

Shipwrecks, treasure hunters, and naval history are on display in Neptune’s Fortune, the latest from Julian Sancton. Following the true story of the San Jose’ and the search to find it’s wreckage, this is a gripping book that will keep readers engaged and wanting their own piece of the Spanish fortune.

In Case You Missed It

Last Week’s Prompt

What if the Belgian occupation of the Congo had been pushed back—and the Congolese people had turned to airships, mechanical prosthetics, and advanced weaponry to keep European powers out? Everfair by Nisi Shawl imagines that alternate 1908, blending Steampunk tech with a fiercely anti-colonial story.

On paper, this sounded like a perfect Steampunk pick for our challenge, but it ended up being a really tough read for me. I landed at 2.65 stars out of 5. The book needs a huge content warning for graphic war violence (including limb loss and harm to children), which nearly made me put it down more than once. On top of that, the plot and constant shifts in location and conversation made it hard for me to stay grounded in the story. This is not a book I’d recommend to readers for this prompt again.

Last Week’s Articles

Two January author events — one right in my neighborhood, one a mini road trip — and not all of it was magical.

Getting back into the bookish community has meant packed chairs, familiar faces, and two authors I’ve loved on the page: Paula McLain and Rachel Hawkins. There were cozy, joy‑filled moments (hello, behind‑the‑scenes process talk) and a few things I’d think twice about before booking again.

If you’ve ever wondered which author events are worth the travel, this one’s for you. The full recap of what I loved and could have done without is here.

Last Week’s Preview

Everything isn’t exactly as it seems with Professor Grave…He’s made a deal with the devil, is haunted by the love he lost, and now the family he would do anything to protect is in danger all over again. Between demon sidekicks, werewolves, and hunters lurking in the shadows, this paranormal thriller reads like a dark fairytale retelling with a morally gray hero you can’t look away from.

Debut author Cameron Sullivan delivers dual timelines, razor‑sharp banter, big twists I didn’t see coming, and just enough gore and spice to keep things intense without losing the heart. I listened on audio and loved the narrator’s performance—it made it even harder to hit pause. Content note: some graphic scenes (violence + sex); I’d hand this to mature readers 16+ who love monster mysteries and darker retellings.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance copy—all opinions are my own. The Red Winter releases February 24, so if you love Van Helsing, Interview With a Vampire, or Wednesday, this one needs to be on your radar.

Reading Challenge Prompts

In 2026, we’re reading through the genres in our local libraries, starting with Science Fiction! This isn’t my favorite genre, but I’m having fun digging in so far. Which of our weekly prompts is your favorite type of science fiction?

This Week: January 25th

News and Updates

This Week