February 2024 Reading Update
Mar. 6th, 2024 10:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penwallaNot as many books as January, but still I did pretty good. I'm doing a challenge this year where I try to read 26 books off my backlist, one author for each letter of the alphabet, and so far I'm making good headway and getting through some of these e-books that have sat unread for way too long.
Currently Reading:
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
I'm very slowly making progress.
We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2021 edited by L. D. Lewis
Working my way through it!
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
I got a chapter in and had to stop because I was too distressed to go on. I'd like to finish it -- we'll see.
Those Who Wait by Haley Cass
Impulse bought this and accidentally opened it on my Kindle, and it automatically marks the book as Currently Reading so now...I'm reading it. You would be surprised by how often that happens to me.
Rereads:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
3/5. I read this a long time ago, when I was in high school, so I was coming to it fresh. I feel like the mood and the characterization of this novel are so tense, so carefully crafted. For me the style wasn't personally enjoyable to read. Definitely one of those books I read to study, not for pleasure.
Soul Eater by Lily Mayne (Monstrous #1)
5/5. Yes, I reread this multiple times a year, and no, I will not stop.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
5/5. Another reread. This is genuinely one of my favorite books ever. Can't wait to reread the entire series.
Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
5/5. Classic Poirot, with a compelling mystery and some interesting social commentary.
New Reads:
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
3/5. At the end of the day I think the pacing doesn't quite work for me, and while the protagonist has a strong voice and is very well characterized, she's also so annoying. Just not a character I enjoyed being stuck with for a whole book.
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night by Sophie Hannah
4/5. Solid Christie-esque mystery! This one loses a star for having the crucial revelation take place off screen, so it's not really solvable by the reader the way other mysteries are. Hannah's official Poirot novels continue to be a treat.
On the Same Page by Haley Cass
5/5. Scorching, heartfelt romance between two best friends, with an incredibly entertaining misunderstanding and very real-feeling interpersonal conflict.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
5/5. Beautifully written Russian fantasy. I love fairytale style stories and this one has a strong sense of place that carries it well.
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
4/5. Again, a really strong sense of time and place, and Vasya feels like a full human being. I knocked off a star because this was personally really stressful to read, but that's not an objective flaw and I would still highly recommend it. I feel like it adds to the prior book very well by increasing the scope of the conflict and giving Vasya a chance to spread her wings.
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian
5/5. I really enjoyed the way Sebastian handles Hart's previous trauma, giving him space to be an imperfect victim while validating that nothing was his fault. I also thought Sam was delightful. And I appreciate a historical romcom with POC leads.
A Suitable Consort (For the King and his Husband) by R. Cooper
5/5. I love the vibes of this poly political romance, which balances the reality of courting when there's politics afoot with the soft, fluffy romance. I also love the way each love interest sort of fits into a romance archetype but also doesn't.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
5/5. A tightly paced fantasy about gods and humans. I really enjoyed the world of this story and felt like it raced along at a good pace. Definitely would pick up the sequel.
Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell
5/5. A fantasy histrom between a clerk and a leatherworker, who must outwit a faerie queen and also period homophobia. I really enjoyed this, loved the setting and the romance and the plot.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
5/5. This gets five stars because I shed actual tears while reading it. It's a well paced, well-constructed enemies to lovers fantasy romance that I really enjoyed.
Exodus 20:3 by Freydis Moon
5/5. I feel like Freydis Moon understands how to make sex scenes hot better than any other author on the planet. I was agog the entire time I was reading this novelette. Transmasc rep, Latine rep, mlm rep, but honestly I feel just listing those things sells the work so short. You can feel Moon's love for the subject matter dripping from the page.
The Moonsteel Crown by Stephen Deas
3/5. It's...fine. Honestly not the kind of fantasy I enjoy -- too grim. Doesn't feel particularly fresh or engaging to be honest. I hated Fings. This is something I bought a couple years back, and it shows, because I've gotten way better at selecting books that I think I will like. I keep seeing this described in reviews as having great found family vibes, but I can't agree.
Currently Reading:
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
I'm very slowly making progress.
We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2021 edited by L. D. Lewis
Working my way through it!
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
I got a chapter in and had to stop because I was too distressed to go on. I'd like to finish it -- we'll see.
Those Who Wait by Haley Cass
Impulse bought this and accidentally opened it on my Kindle, and it automatically marks the book as Currently Reading so now...I'm reading it. You would be surprised by how often that happens to me.
Rereads:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
3/5. I read this a long time ago, when I was in high school, so I was coming to it fresh. I feel like the mood and the characterization of this novel are so tense, so carefully crafted. For me the style wasn't personally enjoyable to read. Definitely one of those books I read to study, not for pleasure.
Soul Eater by Lily Mayne (Monstrous #1)
5/5. Yes, I reread this multiple times a year, and no, I will not stop.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
5/5. Another reread. This is genuinely one of my favorite books ever. Can't wait to reread the entire series.
Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
5/5. Classic Poirot, with a compelling mystery and some interesting social commentary.
New Reads:
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
3/5. At the end of the day I think the pacing doesn't quite work for me, and while the protagonist has a strong voice and is very well characterized, she's also so annoying. Just not a character I enjoyed being stuck with for a whole book.
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night by Sophie Hannah
4/5. Solid Christie-esque mystery! This one loses a star for having the crucial revelation take place off screen, so it's not really solvable by the reader the way other mysteries are. Hannah's official Poirot novels continue to be a treat.
On the Same Page by Haley Cass
5/5. Scorching, heartfelt romance between two best friends, with an incredibly entertaining misunderstanding and very real-feeling interpersonal conflict.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
5/5. Beautifully written Russian fantasy. I love fairytale style stories and this one has a strong sense of place that carries it well.
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
4/5. Again, a really strong sense of time and place, and Vasya feels like a full human being. I knocked off a star because this was personally really stressful to read, but that's not an objective flaw and I would still highly recommend it. I feel like it adds to the prior book very well by increasing the scope of the conflict and giving Vasya a chance to spread her wings.
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian
5/5. I really enjoyed the way Sebastian handles Hart's previous trauma, giving him space to be an imperfect victim while validating that nothing was his fault. I also thought Sam was delightful. And I appreciate a historical romcom with POC leads.
A Suitable Consort (For the King and his Husband) by R. Cooper
5/5. I love the vibes of this poly political romance, which balances the reality of courting when there's politics afoot with the soft, fluffy romance. I also love the way each love interest sort of fits into a romance archetype but also doesn't.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
5/5. A tightly paced fantasy about gods and humans. I really enjoyed the world of this story and felt like it raced along at a good pace. Definitely would pick up the sequel.
Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell
5/5. A fantasy histrom between a clerk and a leatherworker, who must outwit a faerie queen and also period homophobia. I really enjoyed this, loved the setting and the romance and the plot.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
5/5. This gets five stars because I shed actual tears while reading it. It's a well paced, well-constructed enemies to lovers fantasy romance that I really enjoyed.
Exodus 20:3 by Freydis Moon
5/5. I feel like Freydis Moon understands how to make sex scenes hot better than any other author on the planet. I was agog the entire time I was reading this novelette. Transmasc rep, Latine rep, mlm rep, but honestly I feel just listing those things sells the work so short. You can feel Moon's love for the subject matter dripping from the page.
The Moonsteel Crown by Stephen Deas
3/5. It's...fine. Honestly not the kind of fantasy I enjoy -- too grim. Doesn't feel particularly fresh or engaging to be honest. I hated Fings. This is something I bought a couple years back, and it shows, because I've gotten way better at selecting books that I think I will like. I keep seeing this described in reviews as having great found family vibes, but I can't agree.
