February Month in Review

Hey y’all!

February was another good reading month! I hit a lull in the middle of the month but managed to get myself out of it and sneak in a few more stellar reads before the end of the month.

Here's my February reads, lowest to highest:

Dark Restraint by Katee Robert (E-Book)

3 Stars

I put off reading this because I knew I wouldn't like it. The dynamics in this one are just not for me. Exciting plot stuff though, and I'm excited for Poseidon and Icarus!

The Moonlight Healers by Elizabeth Becker (ARC, E-Book)

3 Stars

This was an emotional book about multiple generations of women carrying the gift to heal. It's a beautiful exploration of the challenges that health care workers, especially nurses, face when caring for patients. I really appreciated the commentary around allowing people peaceful, respectful passings. Dignity in death is something that's important to me, and this story definitely emphasized it's importance.

However, I never really found myself fully connecting with the characters. I'm not exactly sure why, but I finished the story and just felt like it was missing something. I do think that someone who really loves historical fiction would enjoy this more than I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and Greydon House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

These Vengeful Wishes by Vanessa Montalban (ARC, E-Book)

3.5 Stars

This was good but there was something that didn't fully work for me, keeping it from being a true 4 or 5 star read.

Ceci was an interesting main character - strong, willful, and more read like a true teenager. However, I struggled with her attitude at times and got frustrated with the decisions she made. This may be more to do with the fact that, as I grow older, certain YA books get harder for me to relate to. This is natural and not an actual issue for the book - so take this with a grain of salt! - but I personally struggled with Ceci at times.

Jamie is a solid counterbalance to her, though, and I enjoyed their relationship. Unfortunately, I found it less satisfying that his growth occurs off-page at the end - while I'm glad he seems to reunite with his mother and escape his father's influence, I felt a bit robbed of seeing him take action to change his life when a good bit of his characterization has to do with him being stuck in his current circumstances.

If you enjoy YA, gothic fantasy, and Latine-inspired folktales, this one is for you! Thank you to Zando and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert (Paperbook)

4 Stars

Yesssss. Also, I love Katee's footnotes in the new edition!!

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher (ARC, E-Book)

4 Stars

This was SO cute!! I loved all the characters, but especially Zale - more Zale please!

I still haven't read a Kingfisher book I haven't loved - this one is no different. With a light-hearted, Princess Bride kind of vibe and a delightfully real feeling middle aged woman MC, this was a joy. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this universe.

Of Monsters and Mainframes (ARC, E-Book)

4.5 Stars

This really scratched my snarky-sentient-ship itch!! If you like Murderbot Diaries (for the sparky AI that will do anything to protect it's crew) or Gideon the Ninth (for the absurd space opera vibes), you have to check this one out.

I loved this so much, I couldn't put it down once I started it. This was a very fun read with a delightful cast of characters - and I liked that we got a handful of short story-like arcs that all came together in the end.

My only note is that I wanted more Frankenstein!! And I felt like we didn't fully wrap up their story at the end. But otherwise, no complaints - an absolute joy to read.

Thank you to Bindery and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Paperback)

5 Stars

It's been long enough since I read these that I'd forgotten some of the character deaths. Brutal. Definitely cried at the end.

The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow (ARC, E-Book)

5 Stars

I wish this was longer - not because it *needed* to be, but because I wasn't ready to leave this fascinatingly imagined future version of Appalachia. Even though this was less than 40 pages, Harrow crafted an intriguing dystopian vision for our future. She masterfully weaves in things current readers will recognize but twists them, making them something new after hundreds of years of upheaval and change. I don't want to share much more at risk of ruining the satisfying moments in this story, but I will say that this was gorgeous and moving.

Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim (Paperback)

5 Stars

This was a PERFECT February read. I saw this pitched as K-Drama-esque and I think that's very accurate. You really have to embrace the slightly campy, dramatic romance of it all (which is how I feel about watching most K-Drama romances). If you lean in, it's infinitely more enjoyable!

I loved the Korean mythology, especially Hani as a gumiho (I have a particular soft spot for fox-women in mythology). I also really enjoyed the romance - it moved a little quickly after a certain point but it seemed like an intentional use of the "fated lovers" trope.

I was recently approved for the ARC of book 2, and I cannot WAIT to read it. I love Hani and Soekga and am looking forward to seeing how their story resolves.

The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim (ARC, E-Book)

5 Stars

I picked up the sequel as soon as I finished book 1 - and then proceeded to cry through half the book. I knew there would be parts of The God and the Gwisin that absolutely broke my heart [redacted for spoilers!].

Seokga's character arc over the two books is particularly satisfying. I'm a sucker for the cold-hearted, dark trickster character and his growth was really enjoyable (while not losing his true trickster nature).

I really enjoyed the way this wrapped up some open threads from book 1 as well as introduced some new characters and locations. I'm REALLY hoping the open-ended ending means we might get book 3 (please, Sophie Kim? please, Del Ray??).

Honestly, I'm just not ready to say goodbye to them yet. I would also accept a K-Drama adaptation, tbh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn (ARC, E-Book)

5 Stars

Most historical fictions have a little bit of a slow pick up, and that's true of Hungerstone as well. However, once we were in the thick of things, I went absolutely FERAL for this exquisitely crafted story of hunger, violence, power, and revenge.

I've been *very* here for the lesbian vampire retellings lately, and this version of Carmilla certainly delivered on that note. The tension between Lenore and Carmilla was so intertwined with violence and gore and hunger in a way that was darkly riveting and sensual.

I'm a firm believer that the difference between a good vampire novel and a bad one is whether or not they interrogate the original themes that vampire stories grew out of. The recent Nosferatu movie did this well in its exploration of female sexuality and desire - which we also see in Hungerstone through a more queer lens.

One aspect of vampire stories that can sometimes go unappreciated, but that Hungerstone does beautifully, is the *hunger* side of desire, of wanting, of craving and need. Dunn's writing is so visceral in its exploration of hunger, from food to sex to power to revenge. It sits in the pit of your stomach as you read, forcing you to confront the desire so eloquently communicated in its pages.

This was a stellar read. Thank you to Zando and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Paperback)

5 Stars

Why is it so easy to allow fear to lead us? Why is it so difficult to choose empathy instead?

I don't have words for this book, other than it's a masterpiece and I'll be thinking about it for a long, long time.