February Reading Wrap-Up: 4 Books,1600+ Pages
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This post is all about February’s reading wrap-up (don’t forget to leave me a comment ? if you’ve read any of these and what you’ve thought!)
February is annoying short ? yes, those 2-3 days count ?. That being said, I’ve still managed to get through four books this month. It probably would have been more if I hadn’t struggled so much to read in general ? February has been such a busy month. Nevertheless, we push onward. And now…
The February Reading Wrap-Up ? In Order of Least to Favorite (This was not Easy…)
4. The Seven Husbands of Even Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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From the Back:
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready, to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
Excerpt from my review:
This book was phenomenal. I absolutely adored the story. The story was fully engaging and I loved the dynamic between Monique and Evelyn. There were a couple of things that detracted from being completely enamored with the story though.
1. The hype surrounding the book — totally not the fault of the book.
And, 2. I didn’t like that major plot points were revealed at the beginning of the book. Although, those chapters turned out to be the best parts of the books and were probably used as a foreshadowing technique to give us a taste of what was to come.
It should have been more suspense to be revealed to allow you to love it even more.
The full review will be up soon.
Related Post: {11 Books That Will Have You Book Obsessed}
Getting Closer to the end #3 of the Reading Wrap-Up goes to
3. The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter
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From the Back:
In a daring and deadly heist, thieves have made away with an artifact of terrible power–the death mask of Louis Charbon. Made by a master craftsman, it is imbued with the spirit of a monster from history, a serial murderer who terrorized the city with a series of gruesome murders.
Now Charbon is loose once more, killing from beyond the grave. But these murders are different from before, not simply random but the work of a deliberate mind probing for answers to a sinister question.
It is up to Krona Hirvath and her fellow Regulators to enter the mind of madness to stop this insatiable killer while facing the terrible truths left in his wake.
Excerpt from my review:
This is a bloody delicious fantasy novel. A twist between Mistborn and Hannibal Lecture with a splash of romance— like cream in coffee, you won’t want to miss this tale. The chronicle of The Helm of Midnight is a dark story of De-Krona Hirvath. Krona is a Regulator in the city of Lutador.
From the start of the first sentence, the Helm of Midnight is executed skillfully. Lostetter has a dual challenge by introducing the reader to a new world with the city of Lutador. Along with, creating a magic system that is unique and seamless, while still being easy to follow.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this if your fantasy tastes run through the same course as a good murder mystery. I would recommend this for fans of Branden Sanderson (Mistborn), Sara Mueller ( The Bone Orchard), and Thomas Harris (The Silence of the Lambs) Make sure The Five Penalties is on your TBR pile this February—with The Cage of Dark Hours being released it is the perfect time to start the series.
Check out my full review of The Helm of Midnight
Related Post: {Do I have the Other Book Challenge?}
And then there were 2. The #2 Slot for the Reading Wrap-Up goes to
2. The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
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From the Back:
Raised by a distant father and an understanding but overprotective mother, Vivek suffers disorienting blackouts and moments of disconnection between self and surroundings. As adolescence gives way to adulthood, Vivek finds solace in friendships with the warm, boisterous daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign-born women married to Nigerian men.
But Vivek’s closest bond is with Osita, the worldly, high-spirited cousin whose teasing confidence masks a guarded private life. As their relationship deepens—and Osita struggles to understand Vivek’s escalating crisis—the mystery gives way to a heart-stopping act of violence in a moment of exhilarating freedom.
Excerpt from my review:
Deposited in the rich setting of 1980s Nigeria. The Death of Vivek Oji is a heartbreaking tale. A story that is so beautifully presented you can’t help but think that Emezi has a great talent for moving the story fluidly. They use characters and those memories to propel the story, while still keeping it seamless.
This story will have you filled with tears. Please check the trigger warnings and read my full review of The Death of Vivek Oji
Drum roll ? for the #1 spot in the Reading Wrap-Up is…
1. The Night Circus By Erin Morgenstern
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From the Back:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Excerpt from my review:
The queen Erin Morgenstern can do no wrong! If I could give this story 10 stars I would. This tale is atmospheric and magical. The prose are sparkly and purple. It is a romantic chronicle without being a romance at all a story about a circus without being a circus.
The entire book is descriptive from the beautiful enchantments and illusions to the delectable courses at the exotic midnight dinners. It is a work of imagination. A work of mystery, Morgenstern gives you space to experience the circus without truly being in attendance, to experience its delights, to follow it across the world.
And for that very reason, it will take the top spot in this countdown and in my heart ?, right alongside Morgenstern’s other work that I am absolutely enamored with The Starless Sea.
Which book on this reading wrap-up was your favorite? Leave us a comment and let us know!
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?Love is in the Air-My February 2023 TBR
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