Beneath A Thousand Skies

Hello!

Happy New Year! Well we’re officially in 2026 now, so it’s time to look forward and I’m actually trying to be a wee bit more organised this year (please note I said ‘wee bit’). So today I’m sharing my January TBR – now this is the slimmed down the version.

I have other books that I fully intend to read this month, including some series re/rereads which will be featured on the blog, but I’ve made the choice to keep them separate. Instead, my monthly TBRs are going to be split into five categories Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror, Crime/Fiction, Non-Fiction, Manga/Graphic Novels and Anime; and each month I’m going to choose two books, two series/films that I am going to read/watch.

And tomorrow I’ll be taking a look at the Winter 2026 Anime lineup and which ones are on my to watch list, and which ones I’m looking to try before deciding.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror:

I got The Broken Sword as soon as it came out and then LIFE got in the way, but I am super excited to read the conclusion to this fantastic series. The Shipwright and the Shroudweaver was one I was fascinated by, and after reading Jamedi’s Review I had to pick it up.

Crime/Fiction:

I’m trying to read a bit more outside my usual lane this year, and as these two had already caught my eye at work that works perfectly. When We Were Killers is set in St Andrews so of course I had to pick it up, I love books where I know the location. While Silencer just called to me.

Non-Fiction:

Embed With Games was one I only came across the other day when it came into work, but it sounds fascinating, and especially as the game industry is changing so much at the moment I feel this one holds a lot of promise. Empress of the Nile was a birthday present, and one I’ve been itching to get to – especially as this wasn’t a name I had come across before.

Manga/Graphic Novel:

I’ll be honest, I know very little about either of these. I picked up Shibuya Goldfish because of the cover – I must have gone back and forth to it in the bookshop multiple times before giving in. Notes on a Thesis is another work temptation, but as someone debating about returning to academia it felt like a good one to pick up.

Anime:

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku is an anime that has been on my list for ages, and every time I see the opening in an anime video I go ‘I must watch that’ so here I am, finally planning to do just that. Fanfare of Adolescence is one I know very little about, but its a sport anime which is one of my favourite genres and I love dabbling in new sports.

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So there we go, my January TBR. What are you planning on reading/watching this month?

I’ll see you tomorrow with a look at the Winter Anime lineup.