Better late than never! Here’s what I read in February with a brief review for each.
Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re looking for an epic fantasy saga that’s not set in a Eurocentric setting, look no further than the Daevabad trilogy. Kingdom of Copper is the second book in this trilogy and is well narrated by Soneela Nankani.
Tendu: Dancing in the Castle by Ailish Sinclair
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A light and fun romance set in the ballet world with touches of magic. Do check trigger warnings as it turns into a thriller at the end. Despite the book having trouble sticking to one genre, I enjoyed it.
Cabriole: Dancing in the City by Ailish Sinclair
⭐️⭐️
Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the sequel. It was filled with too much unnecessary drama for me.
The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The second book in the Amelia Peabody series is a fun reimagining of The Hound of the Baskervilles in an Egyptian archaeological setting.
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommended to me by a friend, this book taught me some useful negotiating tactics I’ve used to good effect in real life. I also enjoyed Chris Voss’ stories from his time as an FBI negotiator.
The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my least favorite Amelia Peabody books because it takes place in England instead of in Egypt. It also features some thoroughly disagreeable children.
Nöthin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the ‘80s Hard Rock Explosion by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock
✨⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
My first 5 star read for February! A must-read for any fan of ‘80s hard rock, this book is entirely constructed of interviews from the people who were there at the time. You’ll get delicious backstage gossip and come away with great respect for the sheer grit and hard work these musicians put in.
Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mark Pendergrast really did the work to research this book, even going to Columbia and picking coffee beans himself. A fascinating and eye opening look at a commodity many can’t do without.
Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was fascinating and eye-opening. A very thought-provoking read about Americans’ thoughts on race, based on six word sentences submitted to the author as part of The Race Card Project. A surprisingly rich conversation arises from just six words, though I did find it overly repetitive at times. If I had submitted six words, they would have been, “Celtic pride is not necessarily racist.”
Lion in the Valley and The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Two more installments in the Amelia Peabody series.
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The narrator, Michael Kramer, took some getting used to and is a little on the dry and monotonous side. Otherwise I enjoyed this mashup of a classic heist and thief saves the world story with a few twists. I read this book for the February Year in Aeldia 2024 prompt and plan to continue the series next month. I’m in a great buddy read chat for this series and feel like I’ve found friends there. That motivates me to keep going.
Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck
⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s a romance with magic in and sometimes the plot was moved forward by means of the idiot ball. But I did like it enough I got the sequel on sale and intend to listen to it. Make of that what you will.
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
✨⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
My second five star read of February! This book features a Murder on the Orient Express-style murder mystery, magic, snark with heart, and gay romance. I am so glad I got a physical copy instead of waiting to find out if there will be an audiobook (which I still devoutly hope will happen with a decent narrator). In this case you can judge a book by its gorgeous cover. I absolutely loved it!
That wraps up my reading for February 2024! Comment below if you’ve read or plan to read any of these books and your thoughts. Hope to see you back here for the next blog post!
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